Transitions Care Leverages Tech, New Care Models to Improve Patient Outcomes

Illinois-based Transitions Care is implementing new technology and innovative care models to maximize its opportunities for value-based reimbursement, improve patient outcomes and create efficiency to reduce the burden on staff.  In pursuit of these objectives, the company in 2021 launched two new programs: Chronic Care Management (CCM) and Transitional Care Management (TCM), as well as […]

Amedisys Makes Executive Moves; Bristol Hospice Names New CFO

Amedisys appoints new chief strategy officer Home health and hospice provider Amedisys Inc. (NASDAQ: AMED) recently named Nick Muscato as its new chief strategy officer. Muscato previously served as senior vice president of finance for seven years before stepping into the role. Moscato has led the company’s investor relations activities and has played a “pivotal […]

Rising Admissions, M&A Bolster LHC Group as UnitedHealth Group Deal Proceeds

As LHC Group’s (NASDAQ: LHCG) pending $5.5 billion acquisition by UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) unfolds, the home health and hospice provider is seeing resurgent admissions growth despite persistent workforce pressures. LHC Group saw a contraction in the nursing labor market across its business segments during the second half of last year, President Joshua Proffitt previously […]

ACO REACH’s Health Equity Benchmarks: A Primer for Hospices

The diversity, equity and inclusion components of Accountable Care Organization Realizing Equity, Access and Community Health (ACO REACH) program show promise for expanding access to care. But it means participating hospices will need to devote scarce resources to meet program requirements. The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation’s (CMMI) last year announced a “strategy refresh” […]

Seeking the Formula for Sustainable Palliative Care

The United States lacks a robust reimbursement system for palliative care. While stakeholders work toward change, providers are developing innovative ways to work with what they have to bring this care to patients in need. Historically, the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has reimbursed palliative care through a fee-for-service model that only […]

Addus Positioned to ‘Stay Acquisitive’ During 2022

Acquisitions will be crucial to Addus HomeCare Corp.’s (NASDAQ: ADUS) 2022 objectives as COVID headwinds start to abate. The company expects to gain momentum on expansion as the year progresses. Acquisitions remain an important part of the company’s growth strategy as it seeks to co-locate each of its three business lines in the markets it […]

Post-Acute RPA Firm Element5 Raises $30M in Series B Round

The post-acute technology platform Element5 has secured $30 million in a Series B investment round led by the venture capital and private equity firm Insight Partners. The company will use the influx of funds to expand their workforce and enhance their robotic process automation (RPA) and artificial intelligence solutions.  With the Series B round complete, […]

Hospice Unattainable for Some Families Without Caregiver Support

The nation’s health care system is lacking in support for caregivers of the terminally ill, who are often left with a heavy financial and logistical burden. Without assistance or relief, these difficulties can impede access to hospice. Research has shown that patients who are faced with end-of-life decisions may be less likely to choose hospice […]

UnityPoint VP Agnew: Educate Patients, Clinicians to Expand Hospice

Katrina Agnew joined UnityPoint Health in December 2021 as vice president of hospice. Though professionally she has cared for terminally ill patients for more than 30 years, her personal experience after her mother’s diagnosis with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer underscored the critical importance of her work. This drives her commitment to expand access to hospice […]

CMS Report: Concurrent Hospice, Curative Care a Winning Proposition

The Medicare Advantage hospice carve-in has been the focus of much attention among providers, and many are watching closely for the demonstration’s outcomes. But for the past four years, a lesser-known payment model demo, the Medicare Care Choices Model (MCCM), has been hitting every target — reducing costs, improving quality and family satisfaction, and keeping […]