WASHINGTON—The Research Institute for Home Care (RIHC or the Institute) and the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) released the 2023 RIHC Home Care Chartbook. Highlighting the role homecare plays in caring for an aging demographic, the Chartbook provides a look at the patients being served in home health, who they are demographically and clinically and the workforce that cares for them.
Published annually, the Chartbook provides a broad overview of home health patients, the home health workforce, organizational trends and the economic contribution of home health agencies, as well as data on 30-day rehospitalization rates. Compiled and charted by KNG Health Consulting, the Chartbook summarizes and analyzes statistics on home health from a range of government sources, including the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey, Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Department of Commerce, Medicare Cost Reports, Home Health Compare, Medicare fee-for-service claims and other data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
“This year’s Chartbook once again offers a critical lens through which to view the impact of homecare on patients and the U.S. health care system,” said Jennifer Sheets, chairman of the Institute’s Board of Directors. “We are thrilled to welcome the NAHC back as a co-sponsor of the Chartbook. NAHC is an important industry leader in homecare advocacy and a vital partner of the Institute.”
“The Chartbook is full of essential information on the Medicare home health benefit and its impact,” said NAHC President William A. Dombi. “Care at home is changing so quickly and there is so much new information. The Chartbook really helps me stay on top of it all. I rely on it all the time in NAHC advocacy and policy development.”
Upcoming Chartbook Webinar
NAHC and the Institute will present the findings in a webinar on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023 at 2 p.m. ET, which will serve as an overview for the Chartbook, how to use it, key data from this year’s edition, and more. The webinar will be free and recorded for later use. Registration for the webinar will be available soon.
A few key takeaways that will be discussed:
- Difference in demographics between Medicare Advantage and Traditional Medicare home health patients;
- Continued growth of post-acute patients being sent to home health with sepsis and septicemia;
- Readmissions rates to hospital from the top MS-DRG’s;
- And continuing trends in homecare.
