This article is part of the HHCN+ membership The home care industry is increasingly pursuing value-based reimbursement models, but that transition requires new marketing and communication strategies for providers. Experts told Home Health Care News that value-based care has the potential to improve outcomes and reduce costs, but success depends on providers' public education, payer partners, and hospital systems' willingness to invest. “With the shift to value-based care, the public's perception of home care is more important than ever,” Michael Vinson, senior director of marketing at LHC Group, told HHCN in an email. “When people don't understand these benefits, they…
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Having completed its acquisition of the home health and hospice assets sold by Amedisys as part of the UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) transaction, Pennant Group (Nasdaq:PNTG) is now focused on how the transaction will move the company forward. “We are excited to add these businesses to Pennant,” Pennant CEO Brent Gerisoli said Thursday during the company's third-quarter earnings call. “The United and Amedisys process created a unique opportunity to add a high-quality asset in a desirable market at an attractive valuation, something rarely seen in large transactions with sophisticated operators. Our excitement only grows as we close the transaction and enter…
With both Medicaid budgets and Medicare home health reimbursement rates under pressure, home health providers are facing increasing financial headwinds. Avianna Healthcare (Nasdaq: AVAH) has partially countered these challenges through a series of Medicaid rate wins in 10 states and eight new private practice services (PDS) preferred payer agreements. “As we reset our legal goals for 2026, we will probably continue to set a goal of earning double-digit interest rates,” Aviana CEO Jeff Shaner said during the company's third-quarter earnings call on Thursday. “We expect these PDS rate gains to be smaller across the board compared to the past two-and-a-half…
Enhave Inc. (NYSE: EHAB) management is tracking a variety of headwinds that could negatively impact home care providers, including the proposed 2026 Medicare payment rules, but the company has developed a plan to mitigate the growing challenges. The company's leaders have focused on advanced episodic visit management strategies to offset rate disruptions. “We have to be as efficient as possible to ensure we have the resources we need to strategically invest in people and technology, whether it's CMS pricing or the continued transition through Medicare Advantage,” President and CEO Barb Jacobsmeier said Thursday during the company's third-quarter earnings call. “Our…
This article is part of the HHCN+ membership Last week, Sue Chapman Moss, Kunu Kaushal and Bill Gammy were featured on the latest episode of HHCN+ TALKS, a live interview series of home health care news for HHCN+ subscribers. Throughout the episode, these leaders representing Bayada Home Health Care, Senior Solutions, and Kaiser Permanente spoke to me about a variety of ways their organizations are working toward value-based care arrangements, anticipating and navigating the biggest challenges associated with these opportunities, and more. Mr. Moss, Mr. Kaushal, and Mr. Gummy emphasized the importance of meaningful data, clinical innovation, and strong partnerships…
This article is part of the HHCN+ membership The government shutdown has delayed what would normally be the release of the 2026 Medicare Home Health Final Rule, leaving health care providers in limbo. As we wait for the revelation, many are already planning strategies for the worst. Home health care providers have warned that if the final rule reflects the proposed version, which includes an effective 9% reduction in reimbursement rates, it would push the industry into an “absolute state of emergency.” Some providers expect to be significantly impacted by the proposed rule more than others. For Empath Health CEO…
With reimbursement rate increases in key states, executives at Adas Homecare Corporation (Nasdaq: ADUS) offered a positive outlook. Texas and Illinois, two states where Adas operates, have announced price increases for personal care services. Texas' rate hike went into effect on October 1 of this year. Illinois' tax increase goes into effect on January 1, 2026. “We believe the rate increases in Illinois and Texas and favorable reimbursement support from many of the states in which we operate are a recognition of the value that personal care services provide to both state Medicaid programs and managed care partners through lower…
Referrals are the “lifeblood” of home health providers, but the referral landscape is becoming increasingly challenging, requiring providers to re-strategize and differentiate. To grow in a rapidly evolving referral environment, including the rise of Medicare Advantage and reimbursement pressures, healthcare providers must find ways to accommodate diverse patient populations and stand out to potential referral partners. According to Rexanne Domico, president and CEO of Interim HealthCare, the referral landscape has changed in part due to increased automation that facilitates referrals to specific health care providers. Overall, it's becoming increasingly difficult for providers to build relationships. “If you're looking for high…
You can find out more about the projects, places and people that were shortlisted in this year’s Nursing Times Awards by reading our special supplement. The 2025 Nursing Times Awards supplement includes summaries of the winners across all 25 categories, plus for all of the shortlisted entries, to give you a flavour of our finalists’ entries. Among them are the 2025 Nursing Times Nurse of the Year, Teresa O’Nwere-Tan, a heart failure clinical nurse specialist and advanced nurse practitioner at Nexus Health Group and South East London Integrated Care Board. There is also our 2025 Nurse Leader of the Year…
Our Nursing Times student editors have been appointed for 2025-26 and are ready to begin writing about their experiences and views exclusively for you. As ever, the standard of applications was really high and the selection decisions tough, but we have finally settled on eight student editors from all the entries that were submitted. Thank you so much to all that applied this time and please try again in future, even if you did not get chosen this time. Among the chosen eight students are three representing adult nursing, one each for children’s, mental health and learning disabilities nursing, midwifery,…