New Report: Home Health Serves an Older, Sicker, Poorer Patient Population
A new report confirms what we have always known: Home healthcare patients are among the sickest and most vulnerable beneficiaries in the Medicare program. The 2022 Home Care Chartbook, recently released by Research Institute for Home Care (RIHC), offers a detailed overview of the home health landscape. According to the Chartbook, compared to the Medicare…
Proposed Medicare Cuts to Home Health Threaten Access to Care
Last month, CMS proposed to cut rates for Medicare home health services in 2023 by an unprecedented and permanent -7.69%, equaling $1.33 billion in 2023 alone. If implemented, payment cuts included in the CY 2023 Home Health Prospective Payment System (HHPPS) Proposed Rule will threaten patients’ access to care as America’s home health agencies could…
Specialized Clinical Programs – The Future of Home Health?
Representing some of the nation’s leading home healthcare providers, the Partnership’s members are dedicated to developing innovative reforms to improve the program integrity, quality, and efficiency of the Medicare home healthcare program for our nation’s seniors. An example of this innovation can be seen in LHC Group’s new clinical program, Choose Control. We spoke with…
Congress: Provide Much-Needed Stability & Support for Medicare Providers
Last year, Congress extended the temporary suspension of the 2% sequester to Medicare providers in response to the ongoing challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this 2% relief is set to expire at the end of March. As the impact of the pandemic on our health care system continues to cause strain, sequestration relief…
Reflecting on Our Home Health Patients During National Patient Recognition Week
February 1 marks the start of National Patient Recognition Week, and this week, PQHH is recognizing the estimated 3.5 million seniors who reply upon Medicare home health services. Home healthcare is an essential care option for many patients who are often among the Medicare program’s sickest and most vulnerable. On average, home health patients are…
Choose Home Continues to Gain Support
In the seven months since the Choose Home Care Act (S. 2562/H.R. 5514) was introduced, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle and across the country have recognized the value of this important legislation. The Choose Home Care Act would create an additional cost-effective, patient-centered option for seniors to recover at home after being discharged…
Remembering What’s Important During the Holidays: Being Home with Loved Ones
Happy Holidays from the Partnership! As we enjoy the holiday season with our friends and family, it’s a reminder of how important it is to be home with our loved ones – especially for our seniors. The holidays are a time of the year when so many people return home, and if the Choose Home…
Patients Should Have the Option to Choose Home: Case Study
Home healthcare is an essential care option for patients recovering from a hospital stay and in need of continued treatment for an acute or chronic health problem. Unfortunately, many patients do not have the option to recover at home. Instead, many Medicare beneficiaries must receive care in a skilled nursing facility following hospitalization due to…
Choose Home Case Study: A Better Option for Patients and Caregivers
Home healthcare is an essential care option for patients recovering from a hospital stay and in need of continued treatment for an acute or chronic health problem. Unfortunately, many patients do not have the option to recover at home. Instead, many Medicare beneficiaries must receive care in a skilled nursing facility following hospitalization due to…
Patients Need More Options After Hospitalization: Case Study
Home healthcare provides in-home clinically advanced services to patients following a hospitalization or physician visit. However, many Medicare patients, upon discharge from a serious hospitalization, have health needs that prompt discharge planners to recommend post-acute care in a Skilled Nursing Facility. In the case study below, we can see how the proposed Choose Home program…