BALTIMORE, Maryland—The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced additional resources and flexibilities available in Florida and Georgia in response to Hurricane Helene. CMS is working closely with the states of Florida and Georgia to put these flexibilities in place, ensuring those affected by this natural disaster have access to the care they need.

WASHINGTON—The Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare (PQHH), a coalition of Medicare home health providers aiming to increase access to quality homecare, released a third-party analysis of Medicare home health fee-for-service claims from 2022 through 2023, which found a decline in access to home health services for patients and families.

SPARTANBURG, South Carolina—Agape Care Group (ACG), a provider of hospice and palliative care and portfolio company of Ridgemont Equity Partners, has acquired select Crossroads Hospice locations in Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas and Georgia. Crossroads Hospice will continue to operate in Tennessee, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

WACO, Texas—AxisCare, a homecare software solution for single and multi-location homecare agencies, was awarded as a “Category Leader” for its homecare management software from G2, a software review platform company, for the fifth consecutive year. AxisCare was awarded a total of 13 badges from G2’s Fall 2024 Awards list. 

WASHINGTON—Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), a senior member of the Ways and Means Committee, introduced the Hospice Care Accountability, Reform and Enforcement Act (Hospice CARE Act) in an effort to modernize Medicare’s hospice benefit, which has remained largely unchanged since its inception in 1982. 

CHARLESTON, South Carolina—Senior Helpers, a provider of in-home senior care services, announced it has become Age-Friendly Care at Home (AFC) certified by Community Health Accreditation Partners (CHAP).

NORTHFIELD, Illinois—Medline, a medical-surgical product manufacturer, supply chain provider and clinical solutions partner, announced a new prime vendor partnership with Nebraska-based Vetter Senior Living. Vetter Senior Living is a nonprofit organization providing services and living options for rehabilitation, independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, home health care and hospice. 

CLEVELAND, Ohio—The Mercy Health Home Care and Hospice programs serving Greater Cleveland announced new names: “Mercy Health Home Care by Compassus” and “Mercy Health New Life Hospice by Compassus.” 

FRISCO, Texas—Soleo Health, a national provider of complex specialty pharmacy services, announced the appointment of Jason Weems as the newly created chief information officer (CIO) position. 

CASPER, Wyoming—Banner Health announced the opening of its first home medical equipment clinic in Wyoming. Banner Home Medical Equipment (HME) is staffed with a licensed respiratory therapist, delivery technician, patient service representative and operations manager. Additionally, Banner HME has medical equipment in stock and available for delivery to patient homes or care facilities.