Nearly nine out of 10 adults in the U.S. need help with health literacy. This makes it difficult to understand health coverage and navigate the complex health care system, leading to increased costs and adverse outcomes. This tends to be the case for home care beneficiaries, or potential home care beneficiaries, too. “Health literacy is […]
CMS
Less than a month before election day, the Democratic and Republican candidates for president are dueling over home-based care plans. Vice President Kamala Harris announced on “The View” this week a proposal that would allow home care to be administered through traditional Medicare. On the same day, former President Donald Trump and his campaign released […]
Mental and physical health are vital components of overall wellbeing and can influence each other in many ways. Yet, individuals with mental health conditions may encounter challenges in accessing adequate health care, which can impede their ability to manage their physical health. Home health care providers, however, are increasingly stepping in to bridge this gap. […]
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) paints a rosy portrait of home health margins. But an analysis of cost reporting data – that considers both traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage (MA) payments – shows that providers are generally not sitting atop a hill of money. Instead, they are struggling to stay above water. Kalon Mitchell […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) dealt a blow to UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) and Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) – the two largest Medicare Advantage (MA) administrators – by lowering their star ratings for 2025. Broadly, MA plans are rated on a scale from one to five, and CMS has lowered those ratings […]
This week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a report on a study of its Acute Hospital Care at Home (AHCAH) program. This program permits specific Medicare-certified hospitals to provide inpatient-level care to patients in their homes. The report outlines the study’s results and discusses potential future considerations and limitations. The report […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released additional information around continuity of coverage for home- and community-based services (HCBS) beneficiaries. The agency issued an informational bulletin last month reminding states of federal renewal requirements and available flexibilities to ensure continued coverage for individuals eligible for HCBS through Medicaid. This bulletin continues CMS’ […]
Despite multiple large insurers pulling back on Medicare Advantage (MA), about 51% of Medicare beneficiaries are expected to be enrolled in an MA plan come 2025. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has created a less rosy payment environment for MA plans over recent years, and that has forced some plans to exit […]
Yet another significant cut to home health payments has been proposed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for 2025. For providers, that means more pushback against cuts is in order, locally and in Washington, D.C. But it also means preparing for a world where Medicare fee-for-service is no longer a reliable backbone. […]
The home health sector offers an attractive investment opportunity, but also comes with challenges. It is poised to benefit from an aging population and the shift toward value-based care, however, it is also influenced by factors such as rising interest rates, reimbursement difficulties and staffing shortages, all of which have affected the M&A market. “I […]
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