Number of MA beneficiaries receiving supplemental benefits for the chronically ill triples in one year,...
By
Joe Jancsurak
Feb 09, 2021
The number of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries receiving Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI) has skyrocketed — from 1 million in 2020 to 3 million in 2021— according to a...
Humana, reporting 2020 4Q loss, remains bullish on home care
By
Joe Jancsurak
Feb 04, 2021
During an earnings call on Wednesday, Humana executives called attention to the ongoing financial impact of the pandemic, which contributed to a loss for the fourth quarter of $458 million, or $2.07 diluted...
Home care’s future looks bright — and daunting — as workforce challenges loom large
By
Joe Jancsurak
Nov 19, 2020
With the number of Medicare beneficiaries expected to increase from 54 million to more than 80 million by 2030, according to the Medicare Payment Advisory Committee, and with the public expressing a preference...
New healthcare firm aims to offer holistic primary care services to seniors
By
Joe Jancsurak
Feb 19, 2021
A new healthcare company, ArchWell Health, plans to provide holistic primary healthcare services to Medicare-eligible seniors in medically underserved neighborhoods across the United States. The formation...
Academy president calls for passage of legislation to delay Medicare payment cuts
By
Joe Jancsurak
Dec 16, 2020
Home care providers are pushing lawmakers to pass current legislation that would postpone scheduled cuts to home-based primary care.
Medicare Advantage outcomes top traditional Medicare: report
By
Joe Jancsurak
Jan 05, 2021
Medicare Advantage outperforms traditional Medicare when it comes to pneumonia and flu vaccines, diabetic eye exams, post-acute care and avoidable hospitalizations — all of which enable older adults...
Study: Nurse practitioners drive growth in home care workforce
By
Joe Jancsurak
Mar 03, 2021
Nurse practitioners provided more home care visits than Medicare physicians to traditional Medicare beneficiaries from 2012 to 2016, a study in the HealthAffairs journal revealed.
MedPAC approves recommendations for cuts to home health and hospice payments
By
Joe Jancsurak
Jan 21, 2021
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, which advises Congress on Medicare issues, recently voted in favor of recommendations to reduce the 2021 Medicare base payment rates for hospice and home health...
MedPAC-proposed 5 percent cut to home health pay misses mark: NAHC
By
Joe Jancsurak
Dec 08, 2020
The 5% cut to home health pay recommended by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission does not consider all the costs of care operation and does not include home health agencies that are integrated into...
Study: Many Medicare beneficiaries with planned discharges to HHAs don’t actually receive HHA care
By
Joe Jancsurak
Mar 26, 2021
Some 4 out of 10 Medicare beneficiaries in rural areas with planned discharges to home hospital agencies (HHAs) didn’t actually receive that HHA care, according to a new study entitled “Post-acute...