Michael Martin, VP of network management at tango, has been named a 2024 Future Leader by Home Health Care News.

To become a Future Leader, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be a high-performing employee who is 40 years old or younger, a passionate worker who knows how to put vision into action, and an advocate for seniors, and the committed professionals who ensure their wellbeing.

Martin sat down with Home Health Care News to discuss how reimbursement structures can positively change the future of home health care.

What drew you to this industry?

My mother has worked for post-acute and home health companies for several decades. I was exposed to that at a very early age.

So when I came of age and was able to come around her office, I got a chance to get additional exposure that way. I always had just an understanding of the health care industry, specifically the post-acute industry, through her. After college, I kind of experimented in sales and a few other industries, but I just fell back on what I knew, which was home health. And so my first job, my first real salary position, was working for a home health company. And my career took off from there.

What’s your biggest lesson learned since starting to work in this industry?

The biggest lesson that I’ve learned is that if you are wanting to transform the way providers service their members, I think you have to take a hard look at how they’re reimbursed.

Sitting on this side, where I oversee a network of providers, it’s really important that the way we reimburse providers shifts behaviors towards outcomes versus anything else. I learned that lesson working for VillageCare, where I oversaw their bundled payment program, and I just watched how that transformed the entire facility. I helped manage that program on their behalf, and at the time, I think they were managing about 11 bundles.

And you just saw how a capitated payment model, where you’re taking full risk, changes things. You see discharge, length of stay drop. You see partnerships in the community improve, things like starting the discharge planning process at the point of admission became a familiar sight. And it improved outcomes in a major way.

If you could change one thing with an eye toward the future of home health care, what would it be?

I would change the way providers are reimbursed. If I could, I would orient them all to ideally a full-risk arrangement, and at the very least, an upside arrangement, where they’re getting bonuses based on the value that they’re creating.

In a word, how would you describe the future of home health care?

Bright.

What quality must all Future Leaders possess?

I think it’s multifaceted, but I would say patience and empathy, those are incredibly important. It’s important that we have diverse backgrounds. I think that although the future is bright, we live in a very fragmented environment. And I think that just health care in general is very complicated for the common person. It’s also very dynamic and complicated to health care professionals.

It’s changing all the time, and if you get too lax, you get left behind. Leaders that are at the forefront of this, that are able to keep up, and frankly, pave new paths, have to have the patience to bring everyone else up to speed. And part of that is being empathetic about not only your team, but your clients, your partners in the community – putting yourself in their shoes. That’s vital for any sort of innovation.

To learn more about the Future Leaders program, visit https://futureleaders.agingmedia.com/. 

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Taylor Abo-Hamzy, chief strategy officer at Care2U, has been named a 2024 Future Leader by Home Health Care News.

To become a Future Leader, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be a high-performing employee who is 40 years old or younger, a passionate worker who knows how to put vision into action, and an advocate for seniors, and the committed professionals who ensure their wellbeing.

Abo-Hamzy sat down with Home Health Care News to talk about the emerging home-based care models that will be driving the health care-to-home trend in the future.

What drew you to this industry?

My journey into the home care industry has been shaped by several pivotal experiences that underscored the need for a more patient-centered approach to health care. As a Physician Assistant (PA-C), I often heard my patients express dissatisfaction with their hospital experiences. These conversations revealed a critical gap in care and motivated me to seek alternatives that prioritize comfort and accessibility.

In my leadership role at a large independent physician association (IPA), I developed and oversaw the quality and risk programs for our value-based care model, gaining valuable insights into the complexities of health care delivery. Recognizing that many patients could greatly benefit from receiving high-acuity, hospital-level care in their homes, I collaborated with BCBS of NY to develop a new clinical pathway, High-Intensity Physician-Led Advanced Care at Home (HIPLAC). HIPLAC allows individuals with home-sensitive acute illnesses, typically requiring hospitalization, to receive physician-led, hospital-level care in the comfort of their homes without ever setting foot in a hospital.

The development of HIPLAC became deeply personal, a pet project of sorts, that fully captivated me. With the project being so personal and impactful, I had to see it through. I ultimately joined Care2U, the leading provider of high-acuity care in the home in New York. By joining Care2U, I’ve been able to see my vision of creating a new clinical pathway from conception to reality.

By offering patients greater freedom of choice in their healthcare options, we’ve simultaneously established more sustainable acute care pathways for an already cost-ridden health care system, a win-win for all.

Ultimately, I believe home care represents the future of health care. It enhances patient satisfaction and fosters a holistic approach to health management, emphasizing the importance of patient preference and quality in care delivery. With home care being the next frontier of health care, I could not be more excited to be part of this movement.

What’s your biggest lesson learned since starting to work in this industry?

Adaptability is paramount. Maintaining a patient-centered approach, staying informed and maintaining flexibility are all essential components that drive impactful outcomes in a world where the health care landscape – especially in home care – is constantly evolving with technological advancements, patient needs and shifts in regulation.

If you could change one thing with an eye toward the future of home care, what would it be?

If I could change one thing, it would be the expansion of reimbursement models to more broadly support high-acuity, physician-led care in the home (including Urgent Care/ED Care in the Home, Observation at Home and Hospital at Home).

Although value-based care is progressing, traditional reimbursement structures still heavily favor facility-based care. Adjusting these models to prioritize and incentivize high-acuity care in the home would empower more patients to access hospital-level care in the comfort of their own homes, ultimately driving down health care costs and improving outcomes.

What do you foresee as being different about the home care industry looking ahead to 2025?

The implementation and cost ramifications of the Home Health Value-Based Purchasing (HHVBP) model will play a crucial role in shaping the industry by incentivizing certified agencies to dedicate more focus on quality outcomes.

This shift presents both challenges and opportunities that will require innovation. I expect home care to become much more integrated with advanced technology including remote patient monitoring, telemedicine, and AI-driven care management systems to strengthen the impact and accessibility of preventive care, while utilizing models like Care2U to help reduce readmissions and escalations.

In a word, how would you describe the future of home care?

Empowering.

What quality must all Future Leaders possess?

Vision.

Future leaders in health care must have the ability to see beyond the present challenges – whether it’s navigating policy changes, evolving payment models like HHVBP, or integrating new technologies – to focus on creating innovative, patient-centered solutions. Visionary leaders are adaptable, capable of fostering collaboration across sectors, and resilient in driving long-term change that empowers both patients and the health care system. Vision is what enables leaders to transform ideas into action and lead the industry toward a more sustainable, accessible future.

To learn more about the Future Leaders program, visit https://futureleaders.agingmedia.com/. 

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Thomas Sowers, vice president of community supports at 24 Hour Home Care, has been named a 2024 Future Leader by Home Health Care News.

To become a Future Leader, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be a high-performing employee who is 40 years old or younger, a passionate worker who knows how to put vision into action, and an advocate for seniors, and the committed professionals who ensure their wellbeing.

Sowers sat down with Home Health Care News to talk about how home care providers can start acting as “speed boats,” and not cruise ships, as they navigate change.

What drew you to this industry?

I was drawn to the caregiving industry as a result of a personal experience watching my grandfather navigate a chronic illness and ultimately be on the receiving end of care. My aunt (his daughter) was his caregiver and I quickly realized the value and importance of the family caregiver.

That led me to explore the industry and ultimately to 24 Hour Home Care where I have spent the past 10 years in the pursuit to radically improve the caregiving experience for the care recipient, caregiver and the community.

What’s your biggest lesson learned since starting to work in this industry?

One key lesson learned was balancing empathy with resilience. Caregiving requires deep compassion for both the care recipients and the tactical teams that support the delivery of excellent care, but over the years, I’ve realized that resilience is just as important.

Supporting people through tough times, like during the pandemic or in times of unexpected change, means staying compassionate while also helping teams remain strong, adaptable, and able to solve complex problems. This balance has allowed me to create an environment within my teams where we can make a meaningful impact even in the face of challenges.

If you could change one thing with an eye toward the future of home care, what would it be?

Drive laser-focus on the people – whether it’s the care recipient, caregiver or community – by providing simple, intuitive tools that deliver the information and solutions they need, when and how they need them. By making these tools easy to use and accessible, we can make the care delivery process frictionless, allowing families and caregivers to focus on what truly matters: giving and receiving care.

This would create a seamless experience that supports meaningful, person-centered interactions, empowering everyone involved to leverage their skills to make the biggest possible impact.

What do you foresee as being different about the home care industry looking ahead to 2025?

I think sometimes as an overall industry we can operate a bit like a cruise ship, slow to change course.

However, in 2025 and beyond, I think we’ll see some organizations operating more like speed boats. In my opinion, the next few years are going to be pivotal in defining the future state of the industry and that organizations should aim to be as agile as possible to capture the moment.

We need to embrace new tools that can radically redefine the ways in which we conduct and operate our businesses and impact more people.

In a word, how would you describe the future of home care?

Dynamic.

What quality must all Future Leaders possess?

Grit.

Grit is a critical trait because it fosters perseverance and resilience in navigating challenges. As industries evolve, leaders with grit will embrace change, drive innovation and inspire their teams to stay committed to a dynamic vision of the future. This determination not only helps them overcome obstacles but also cultivates a positive culture that encourages creativity and adaptability. In a rapidly changing world, grit is essential for leading effectively and shaping success.

To learn more about the Future Leaders program, visit https://futureleaders.agingmedia.com/. 

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Lindsey Van Gompel, executive director of specialty programs at Advocate Health’s Continuing Health Division, has been named a 2024 Future Leader by Home Health Care News.

To become a Future Leader, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be a high-performing employee who is 40 years old or younger, a passionate worker who knows how to put vision into action, and an advocate for seniors, and the committed professionals who ensure their wellbeing.

Van Gompel sat down with Home Health Care News to talk about the future of the home-based care space, and how leaders can successfully navigate it.

What drew you to this industry?

In simple terms, I knew I wanted a profession where I could help people. I was fortunate to attend the University of Iowa where there is a strong College of Public Health presence and was encouraged as a potential route to stay in the health care field, but not quite providing direct patient care.

I was able to get a bit more experience through various internships and haven’t looked back since, it’s been great!

What’s your biggest lesson learned since starting to work in this industry?

Stay curious – this industry is multi-faceted and nuanced, what the processes/rules/regulations are in one area could be the complete opposite in the next.

Staying curious and seeking to understand has been a great lens to keep during my health care journey.

If you could change one thing with an eye toward the future of home health care, what would it be?

I would say the ability to implement and adopt new technologies. We know tech/AI is changing the industry on a daily basis – the ability to stay towards the head of the curve will continue to help us deliver on both the patient and teammate experience.

Unfortunately, adopting new technology can often present itself in hardware/software needs that can be fairly cost prohibitive – a more seamless solution would lead to easier adoption.

What do you foresee as being different about the home health care industry looking ahead to 2025?

The importance of it.

Those of us in the industry of providing care in the home know how critical it is to meet patients where they’re at. I feel that others are starting to recognize the importance of it and are starting to create relationships/models to help support more of this type of care in the community.

In a word, how would you describe the future of home health care? 

Necessary.

What quality must all Future Leaders possess?

To be a good communicator. ‘Good’ meaning the leader recognizes the stakeholder group they are communicating with and speaking/writing to them in a way that resonates.

There’s a number of ways for communication and no one way to do it; but rather, keeping the communication frequent and transparent truly helps make a difference.

To learn more about the Future Leaders program, visit https://futureleaders.agingmedia.com/. 

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Sarah Jacob, chief product officer at MedBridge, has been named a 2024 Future Leader by Home Health Care News. 

To become a Future Leader, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be a high-performing employee who is 40 years old or younger, a passionate worker who knows how to put vision into action, and an advocate for seniors, and the committed professionals who ensure their wellbeing.

Jacob sat down with Home Health Care News to explain the importance of building and introducing technology products to the larger home-based care space that will keep providers on the cutting edge. 

What drew you to this industry?

Very few things allow us to help people in their day-to-day lives. I love building products that solve problems, and to me, there’s no better reason to build products than for patients in the health care industry.

Home care, in specific, is lagging in terms of the technology available to patients and customers in this space. The industry has been wanting to evolve, and with rising costs getting in the way of growth, as well as payment models shifting, it’s time that great products become introduced in this space and play a major role.

What’s your biggest lesson learned since starting to work in this industry?

When I think about the patients we serve, one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned while building products for this population is that they are much more like your typical consumer than I had anticipated.

When you think of the home care industry, you generally think of older patients, maybe patients less interested in technology and cutting edge innovation. This could not be further from the truth. The home care partners we serve want to better utilize AI, remote monitoring and on-the-go communication apps. Very similar to your typical consumer of innovative products.

If you could change one thing with an eye toward the future of home care, what would it be?

Collaboration between different technical solutions will become increasingly important. In order to really serve this market, it’s going to take several different solutions that talk to each other.

One area that I believe will be really important to focus on will be the caregiver space. With caregiver shortages within home care, different solutions will need to fill this role. This will require deep integration between valuable solutions so that the patient can be served holistically. We need to change the mindset around closed systems and become an industry of open systems and open integrations.

What do you foresee as being different about the home care industry looking ahead to 2025?

AI is going to play a large role in the future of the industry, particularly within high-impact technology solutions. This means tools to help reduce the cost of staff and supplies; tools to enable caregivers within home care; and tools to monitor patients as they are progressing through their care journey. These technologies are closer to us than we think.

In a word, how would you describe the future of home care?

Shifting.

What quality must all Future Leaders possess?

Future Leaders must be focused on growth. What growth opportunities exist for the home care industry, how can it expand and where can we find new revenue streams?

The answers to these questions will be the future of home care, and having a keen eye towards that will be a critical quality for Future Leaders.

To learn more about the Future Leaders program, visit https://futureleaders.agingmedia.com/.

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Ashley Gore, market leader at Chicago-based Help at Home, has been named a 2024 Future Leader by Home Health Care News.

To become a Future Leader, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be a high-performing employee who is 40 years old or younger, a passionate worker who knows how to put vision into action, and an advocate for seniors, and the committed professionals who ensure their wellbeing.

Gore sat down with Home Health Care News to discuss the client and caregiver experience in home care.

What drew you to this industry?

I started in this industry as a caregiver 15 years ago. I wanted to make a difference and help others. 

What’s your biggest lesson learned since starting work in this industry?

Where there’s a will, there’s a way. There’s a great need in our communities for quality care to ensure that individuals can age safely in their homes, and I’m determined to deliver it.

If you could change one thing with an eye toward the future of home care, what would it be?

Eligibility requirements for clients to allow us to do more, for more.

What do you foresee as being different about the home care industry looking ahead to 2025?

The home care industry will continue to focus on, and discover innovative ways, to elevate the client and caregiver experience.

In a word, how would you describe the future of home care?

Innovative.

What quality must all Future Leaders possess?

Compassion.

To learn more about the Future Leaders program, visit https://futureleaders.agingmedia.com/.

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Brett Ringold, vice president at the Jenkintown, Pennsylvania-based A Long Term Companion, has been named a 2024 Future Leader by Home Health Care News.

To become a Future Leader, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be a high-performing employee who is 40 years old or younger, a passionate worker who knows how to put vision into action, and an advocate for seniors, and the committed professionals who ensure their wellbeing.

Ringold sat down with Home Health Care News to discuss his career trajectory and centering home care business around the caregivers.

What drew you to this industry?

I started my career in the home care industry in 2010, but my first experience with home care was as a patient. I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease when I was 12, and during a particularly bad flare-up, my family hired a local home care provider to assist us. 

Fortunately, I’ve been in remission for nearly 20 years. Still, that experience as a patient inspired my passion for home care and shaped our mission to deliver the highest quality of care to families in the region.

What’s your biggest lesson learned since starting work in this industry?

I’ve learned that our professional caregivers are at the core of everything we do.

When I began my career, especially from the perspective of a former patient, I thought our focus was primarily on serving clients and their families. It quickly became apparent that as leaders, our responsibility is just as much about being exceptional employers, because when we support our caregivers, they’re able to provide the outstanding care our clients depend on.

If you could change one thing with an eye toward the future of home care, what would it be?

Better access to care — in terms of having the workforce meet the growing demand for care and ensuring care is available to those who need it.

There’s been a lot of talk lately about an existential caregiver crisis. Many industries face workforce shortages, but few see a growing demand like home care, which only compounds the challenge. Addressing this will require a multi-faceted approach, with workforce development playing a critical role.

Americans are living longer, and especially considering the increasing number of people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, many will require significant care throughout their lives. Some of this care will be paid for through Medicaid or privately by families, but funding for home care is a pressing issue that needs to be addressed.

Medicare Advantage has not provided the comprehensive coverage for home care that many hoped for. Expanding elder care tax credits and enhancing veteran benefits will be necessary.

Including home care as a standard benefit in Medicare and private insurance plans might be an aspirational goal, but it would be vital to ensuring better access and affordability.

What do you foresee as being different about the home care industry looking ahead to 2025?

The overall quality of care will continue to rise, not just by raising the ceiling but also by elevating the baseline standard of care. Several key factors drive this, including increased investment in our workforce, stronger collaboration across the health care continuum and a growing emphasis on accreditation and higher standards. We’ll see more consistent, high-quality care as providers embrace these changes.

In a word, how would you describe the future of home care?

Bright.

Our industry has evolved so much since I began my career 15 years ago, and I’m very excited about the advancements we’ll see over the next 15 years.

What quality must all Future Leaders possess?

The ability to innovate while staying true to mission. All Future Leaders must maintain a strong connection to their organization’s core values, even as they embrace new ideas and technologies that will continue to drive our industry forward.

To learn more about the Future Leaders program, visit https://futureleaders.agingmedia.com/. 

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Alex Melugin, president at Springfield, Missouri-based Phoenix Home Care & Hospice, has been named a 2024 Future Leader by Home Health Care News.

To become a Future Leader, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be a high-performing employee who is 40 years old or younger, a passionate worker who knows how to put vision into action, and an advocate for seniors, and the committed professionals who ensure their wellbeing.

Melugin sat down with Home Health Care News to discuss his career trajectory and how the home health industry will change in the near-term future.

What drew you to this industry?

The desire to help people while using my business degree and background.

What’s your biggest lesson learned since starting work in this industry?

It’s all about people. Our product is our people, so my job is to create a culture where we can recruit, retain, and inspire the best caregivers, clinicians and leaders within our industry.

If you could change one thing with an eye toward the future of home health care, what would it be?

The over-regulation of our industry.

What do you foresee as being different about the home health care industry looking ahead to 2025?

In the past, many companies only focused on skilled or non-skilled workers. I believe more companies will continue to diversify their service lines and look at offering the full continuum of care. New Day Healthcare and Phoenix Home Care & Hospice have mastered the longitudinal care model by deploying technology throughout our company.

In a word, how would you describe the future of home health care?

Complex.

If you could give advice to yourself looking back to your first day in the industry, what would it be and why?

Outwork everyone!

To learn more about the Future Leaders program, visit https://futureleaders.agingmedia.com/.

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Courtny Brooks, director of home health for the St. Louis-based Lutheran Senior Services, has been named a 2024 Future Leader by Home Health Care News.

To become a Future Leader, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be a high-performing employee who is 40 years old or younger, a passionate worker who knows how to put vision into action, and an advocate for seniors, and the committed professionals who ensure their wellbeing.

Brooks sat down with Home Health Care News to discuss her career trajectory and how the home health industry will change in the near-term future.

What drew you to this industry?

As a hospital and acute rehabilitation nurse, I frequently observed clients being readmitted shortly after discharge. This recurring issue motivated me to seek a more impactful solution, leading me to explore opportunities in home health care.

I provided resources and education to my clients in institutional settings, but I often noticed a disconnect between the information shared in the facility and its application at home. Transitioning to home health care has allowed me to bridge this gap, offering personalized support and guidance to clients within their environments.

What’s your biggest lesson learned since starting work in this industry?

The most significant lesson I have learned is the importance of adaptability. Home health care is a dynamic field that is constantly evolving.

To succeed in this industry, one must be open to change and actively champion it. Adaptability is crucial for effectively addressing the challenges associated with patient care and for ensuring compliance with regulatory changes.

If you could change one thing with an eye toward the future of home health care, what would it be?

If I could change one aspect of the future of home health care, it would be to find innovative ways to leverage technology to alleviate the burden on our health care staff. As regulations continue to increase and reimbursement rates for providing care decrease, it is imperative for agency leaders to identify more efficient methods to comply with these regulations without further straining our staff.

I also envision a future where telehealth is more widely used and accepted in home health care, not as a replacement for in-person visits, but as a means to enhance our monitoring capabilities.

What do you foresee as being different about the home health care industry looking ahead to 2025?

As a home health care leader looking ahead to 2025, I anticipate a significant push to develop new revenue streams in response to ongoing reimbursement reductions and the increasing presence of managed care plans in our markets.

Agencies will likely invest in innovative home care programs and leverage their value-based care data with payers to secure better payment rates. Additionally, I believe we will see an increase in home health acquisitions or joint ventures in 2025 as a way to gain more market share and expand revenue streams.

In a word, how would you describe the future of home health care?

Innovative.

If you could offer advice to your younger self on your first day in the industry, what would it be and why?

Prepare yourself for a dynamic journey filled with growth opportunities.

To learn more about the Future Leaders program, visit https://futureleaders.agingmedia.com/.

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Alex Oosterveen, co-founder and CEO of Miami-based Caribou Health Technologies, has been named a 2024 Future Leader by Home Health Care News.

To become a Future Leader, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be a high-performing employee who is 40 years old or younger, a passionate worker who knows how to put vision into action, and an advocate for seniors, and the committed professionals who ensure their wellbeing.

Oosterveen sat down with Home Health Care News to discuss his career trajectory and how home care agencies will attract and retain talent in the future.

What drew you to this industry?

I was drawn to home care because of its significant impact on people’s lives. My mom worked as a caregiver; she and her peers were incredibly dedicated but often underappreciated. 

Agency operators are facing a tough challenge in the home care industry. Thin margins and low reimbursement rates make it incredibly difficult to provide fair pay and adequate staff engagement resources while still turning a profit.

While working on a large home care M&A transaction in my early 20s, I became fascinated with how technology can help agencies attract, retain and motivate fantastic staff.

What’s your biggest lesson learned since starting work in this industry?

Spend time with the frontline caregivers and coordinators. They are the engine of home care. You have to shadow them to appreciate the challenges they face.

If you could change one thing with an eye toward the future of home health care, what would it be?

We can better financially reward caregivers by making them true partners in the health outcomes of their clients.

What do you foresee as being different about the home health care industry looking ahead to 2025?

I foresee more young people pursuing careers in this field, attracted by the sense of meaning and connection.

In a word, how would you describe the future of home health care?

Empowered.

If you could offer advice to your younger self on your first day in the industry, what would it be and why?

Recognize that every home care market is different. When building scalable solutions, it is essential to know when to be flexible and when to rinse and repeat.

To learn more about the Future Leaders program, visit https://futureleaders.agingmedia.com/. 

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