Graham Healthcare Group Moves Into Florida Market with InTeliCare Acquisition

Hospice, home health and palliative care provider Graham Healthcare Group recently acquired InTeliCare Health Services for an undisclosed sum, marking the company’s entrance into the Florida market. A swelling aging population seeking more care in the home was among the factors leading to the two providers to combine forces.

Michigan-based Graham Healthcare Group is a collaborative joint venture partnering hospitals, health systems and physician groups. A subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC), the company designs business and technology solutions aimed at streamlining hospice and home health operations and improving quality of care. The collaborative Graham Healthcare Group includes Residential Healthcare Group, Allegheny Health Network-Healthcare @ Home, Mary Free Bed at Home, Clarus and CSI Pharmacy.

Based in Boca Raton, Fla., adding InTeliCare Health Services into its fold not only bolsters Graham’s geographic reach into a high-demand area, but also positions the collaborative for other growth avenues into personalized services across the Sunshine State, according to leadership in a recent announcement.

“With the baby boomer generation doubling in size and an increase in comorbidities, this is an ideal time for Graham Healthcare Group to begin serving people in the state of Florida in their own homes with high-quality post-acute and end-of-life care,” said David Curtis, CEO of home health at Graham Healthcare Group. “With the addition of InTeliCare, we’re poised for growth as we continue our mission to transform home care and improve patient experiences. This agreement expands the ability of Graham Healthcare Group to deliver consistent, high-quality care across the spectrum of home health and further strengthens our foundation for success.”

InteliCare provides home health services to roughly 300 patients across three locations in Florida. The state held the third highest rate nationwide for hospice utilization among Medicare decedents in 2018 at 57.9%, according to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. Only Arizona and Utah saw higher rates at 59.2% and 59.4%, respectively.

A growing aging population is anticipated to further fuel demand for hospice care in the Sunshine State. Nearly a quarter, or 20.9% of Florida’s population was 65 and older in 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, which projected that seniors 60 and older will make up 32.5% of the state’s overall population by 2030.

Rising demand for serious illness and end-of-life care has led the state’s government to push forward in nearly doubling the expansion of hospice certificates of need this year.

Graham plans to integrate InTeliCare into its Residential Home Health division in a move that will accelerate access to personalized home health care throughout the area.

Residential is a post-acute home care network providing hospice, home health and palliative care services in Illinois, Michigan and Pennsylvania. Residential will retain InTelicare’s workforce of around 80 employees, adding to its own ranks of 2,500 care professionals. An aim of the combined workforce is to enhance operational efficiencies and advance clinical and technological innovations.

“We strongly align with Residential’s values of care and community. This is an extraordinary opportunity to join forces with an organization that shares our employee- and patient-driven approach to care,” said Irene Tuttle, CEO and founder of InTeliCare. “We are confident that the powerful synergies and added strength this partnership creates will continue to elevate the value and experience of post-acute care and advance the continuum of home health care in central Florida.”

Tuttle will serve in an advisory role following the close of the transaction. Toni Walker, vice president of operations at InTeliCare, will remain in a leadership role overseeing day-to-day operations.