CLEARWATER, Fla. (May 7, 20200—Empath Health announced, through its Mission Services Organization, it is partnering with Catholic Health Services in Miami, Florida, on a large technology project that will benefit Catholic Hospice. As a long-term technology collaborator with Empath Health, Vology will also be heavily involved in this partnership.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (May 6, 2020)—Jobs in the homecare sector are expected to grow 37% through 2028, well ahead of the overall growth rate of 5% for all occupations, according to a new report released by the SeniorList. 

The SeniorList compiles an annual report on home health and Homecare quality and affordability each year, with data from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. This year's data was gathered before the outbreak of COVID-19. 

HARTFORD, Conn., (May 5, 2020)—CareCentrix, a provider of home-based and post-acute care services, announced it has acquired Turn-Key Health, a community-based palliative care company serving health plans, hospitals and physicians. As a result of the acquisition, Turn-Key’s proprietary Palliative Illness Management (PIM) program, which leverages data analytics and artificial intelligence to deliver personalized palliative care plans, will be fully integrated into CareCentrix’s platform.

SUNRISE, Fla. (May 6, 2020)—Interim HealthCare Inc., a franchise network of homecare, senior care, home health and hospice and health care staffing services, announced today the launch of “The Year of Us,” a campaign to unify messages of support and gratitude toward the nation’s nurses, including employees of Interim HealthCare and especially those fighting on the front line against COVID-19. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 5, 2020)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) most recent COVID-19 Interim Final Rule with Comment (IFC) provides flexibility for hospital outpatient departments (HOPD) to provide services to their patients to their home. During the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), a patient’s home may be considered an off-site location of a hospital department. Only registered outpatients may receive services in the home by the HOPD.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 5, 2020)—The COVID-19 stimulus legislation enacted in late March provides significant reimbursement relief for suppliers servicing Medicare beneficiaries in non-rural areas that are not subject to the bidding program. The reimbursement rate for items that have been receiving 100% of the competitive bidding adjusted fee schedule are getting a blended rate of 75% adjusted and 25% unadjusted (2015 fee schedule) rates. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 1, 2020)—More than 40% of home health agencies (HHAs) reported serving actively infected COVID-19 patients—and more than 85% in the New York/New Jersey area—in a survey conducted by the National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC).

NAHC conducted the survey between April 6 and April 17; more than 1,100 home health companies from all states participated.