home health

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 29, 2021)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has submitted a proposal to conduct a mode experiment to test the effects of a web-based mode on response rates and scores, to the Office of Management and Budget.

The CMS proposal, an information collection request titled The Home Health Care CAHPS Survey (HHCAHPS) Mode Experiment, would be an addition to the three currently approved modes – mail, telephone and mail combined.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (October 28, 2021)—Encompass Health Corp. has filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction against former executive April Anthony in state District Court in Dallas County, Texas, alleging breach of her employment agreement with Encompass Health, including breach of non-competition and non-solicitation obligation, and for misappropriation of trade secrets.

NEW YORK (October 27, 2021)—Patients with language barriers who are receiving home health care are at an increased risk for hospital readmission, according to a new study published in the International Journal of Nursing Studies.
 

BOISE, Idaho (October 25, 2021)—Jet Health, Inc., a regional provider of home health and hospice services, announced the appointment of Kara Craig to the newly created position of vice president of personal care.

NEW YORK (October 26, 2021)—Wellspring Capital Management, a leading private equity firm headquartered in New York, announced that it has partnered with management to complete the acquisition of Caring Brands International, Inc. (CBI). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 22, 2021)—The RAISE (Recognize, Assist, Include, Support and Engage) Family Caregiving Advisory Council recently delivered to Congress key recommendations to support the millions of unpaid family caregivers that support older adults and people with disabilities.

BURKBURNETT, Texas (October 21, 2021)—HomeWell Care Services, a network of nonmedical in-home care providers, has launched the Palliative Care Support and Hospice Care Support programs to programs offer clients a personalized schedule of in-home care and companionship that complements their palliative or hospice care plan, relieves family members from the demands of caregiving, and gives clients and families the peace of mind needed to focus on quality time together. 
 

WASHINGTON, D.C (October 15, 2021)—As the population ages and more people live longer with greater disability and disease, policymakers are increasingly motivated to build out the palliative care infrastructure so that more patients and families can access these vital services that address the stress and symptoms of serious illness.

HARTFORD, Conn. (October 15, 2021)—CareCentrix, Inc.—an independent home-centered platform that coordinates care to the home for health plans, patients,and providers—announced that Walgreens Boots Alliance has made a majority investment in the company.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (October 15, 2021)—Biofourmis, a Boston-based provider of digital therapeutics and virtual care that powers personalized predictive care, announced a partnership with Integra Community Care Network, Care New England’s accountable care organization (ACO). Integra, one of the largest ACOs in New England, will deliver hospital-at-home care and remote patient monitoring through Biofourmis’ end-to-end solution.  
 

MINNEAPOLIS (October 13, 2021)—Lifespark, formerly Lifesprk, a provider of whole person services for seniors, has raised $20 million in a B-round to lead the nation in delivering population well-being. This round is being led by Virgo-managed fund to continue funding advancements in Lifespark's operating system and proprietary technology platform and UCare, the largest Medicare Advantage provider in Minnesota, to serve Minnesota seniors holistically with a multiproduct strategy.

CHICAGO (October 13, 2021)—Help at Home, a provider of in-home, person-centered care for seniors, announced the closing of two acquisitions in late September 2021: Pennsylvania-based Meridius Health and Georgia-based Altamaha HomeCare's nonskilled business. Meridius Health and Altamaha add a combined 300 passionate and caring field employees/caregivers serving more than 320 clients in need of homecare in the Lancaster and Southeast Georgia areas.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 12, 2021)—Hospice providers have been anxiously awaiting additional information on two new Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP) measures:

•    Hospice Visits in Last Days of Life (HVLDL)
•    Hospice Care Index (HCI)

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (October 12, 2021)—Addus HomeCare, a provider of comprehensive homecare and support services, has joined the National Minority Health Association (NMHA) in support of the Flex for Checks program that aims to increase COVID-19 vaccinations among those living in medically underserved communities.

Washington, D.C. (October 8, 2021)—The Choose Home Care Act of 2021 has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. Introduced by Reps. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) and James Comer (R-Kentucky), the bipartisan legislation is designed to increase access to home health care following hospitalization for eligible Medicare beneficiaries by offering a safe, high-quality post-acute option for nursing home level services in the home.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 8, 2021)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has posted the annual update of the Post-Acute Care and Hospice Provider Public Use File (PAC PUF) with data for 2019. The PAC PUF now has data available for years 2013-2019.