‘A Deteriorating Industry’: What Home Health Provider Margins Actually Look Like

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 […]

Years After Implementation, EVV Remains Inconsistent Pain Point For Home Care Providers

Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) was established as law in 2016 under the 21st Century Cures Act to address fraud and abuse in home-based care delivery. The law provides federal guidelines, but individual states can determine which service codes are included. However, years after nationwide implementation, EVV still remains a burden for home care providers. Simply […]

How Enhabit, Bayada Win Home Health Value-Based Care Arrangements

As more home health providers participate in value-based care arrangements, leaders are learning what works, and what falls flat. Enhabit Inc. (NYSE: EHAB) has been active in the value-based care space. The company has a small – but growing – number of value-based contracts on the Medicare Advantage (MA) side, as well as Accountable Care […]

The Home Health Nursing Problem That Isn’t Going Away

The home-based care staffing environment will always be a challenge for providers, but things look far better now than they did two years ago in the wake of the pandemic. However, one area that remains a lingering problem for providers is nurses, and specifically nurses who are leveraging a worker shortage to maximize earning power.  […]

‘Lean Into Your Superpowers’: Bayada COO Champions Women In Home Health Leadership 

Heather Helle, president and chief operating officer of Bayada Home Health Care, believes that home-based care could benefit from having more women in leadership roles. Founded in 1975 and headquartered in Moorestown, New Jersey, Bayada provides in-home clinical care and support services for children and adults, including hospice, behavioral health, and rehabilitation in 21 states […]

Turning ‘Pain Points’ Into ‘Bliss Points’: The Chief Experience Officer’s Rise In Home-Based Care

Despite variations in service lines, size and operations, the best home-based care organizations all have one thing in common.  These companies all prioritize the experience — of patients, clients and staff. And while every member of an organization plays a role in shaping the experience, this responsibility largely rests on the shoulders of what is […]

‘Exacerbating Decline In Access’: LHC Group, Enhabit, Bayada Sound Off On CMS’ Proposed Rate Cuts

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) home health proposed payment rule – which would slash rates by 2.2%, or an estimated $375 million less compared to 2023 levels – drew the ire of the industry’s heaviest hitters during the public comment period. The comments were critical of the proposed rule itself. They […]

How Home Health Providers Are Maintaining Positive Referral Relationships Amid Historically High Rejection Rates

With referral rejection rates skyrocketing to new highs in recent years, home health providers have to be more intentional about maintaining strong relationships with referral sources. In 2022, the industry saw a 76% referral rejection rate, compared to 54% in 2019, according to WellSky data. With this in mind, providers are employing a number of […]

Controlling The Controllables: Home Health Giants Improving MA Contracts, Staffing Amid Rate Cuts

The odds are stacked against home health providers. Even while more care is heading to the home, providers have three fundamental problems. The first is that there is an insufficient workforce to meet demand. The second and third are both rate-related. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is actively reducing home health reimbursement […]