Despite Headwinds, Aveanna Still Sees Big Upside to Its Home Health and Hospice Business

It wasn’t too long ago when Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAH) was a company mostly focused on in-home care to pediatric populations. When the Atlanta-based provider filed to go public in April 2021, however, it revealed ambitious plans to expand into the arenas of Medicare-certified home health and hospice care. “We believe that we […]

Pennant COO John Gochnour: Valuations in Hospice Are Becoming More Realistic

The Pennant Group Inc. (NASDAQ: PNTG) is on the hunt for hospice acquisitions as previously record-high price tags in the market trend downward. The home health, hospice and senior living company aims to pursue acquisition opportunities across all of its service lines. Higher valuations in home health and hospice have dampened the ability to stretch […]

Where Hospice Compliance Meets Revenue Cycle Management

As regulatory agencies crack down on hospice spending, providers can benefit from recognizing the links between revenue cycle management and compliance. Regulatory activity is increasing on multiple fronts. For example, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has launched a nationwide audit of general inpatient hospice services […]

Hospice of the Chesapeake Achieves 145% Census Growth Since 2020 Charles County Acquisition

Hospice of the Chesapeake has exceeded its growth expectations since its 2020 acquisition of Hospice of Charles County. At the transaction’s closing, the acquisition boosted Hospice of the Chesapeake’s average daily census to more than 620, up from 580. Since then, the nonprofit’s average daily census in the Charles County region has increased 145%, the […]

How Value-Based Care Could Change a Hospice Organization’s Culture

A transition to value-based reimbursement would fundamentally change the traditional hospice business model. It could also wield a powerful influence on an organization’s culture. Hospices are inching ever closer to the value-based arena. To date, much of this has centered around diversified programs like palliative care, PACE and other services. However, the ongoing value-based insurance […]

Addus Completes Tennessee Quality Care Deal, Anticipates More Transactions

Addus HomeCare Corp. (NASDAQ: ADUS) has completed the acquisition of the home health, hospice and private-duty company Tennessee Quality Care for an undisclosed amount. Across all of its business lines, the Franklin, Tennessee-based provider serves nearly 1,800 patients daily from 17 locations that cover 50 of that state’s 95 counties. Addus covered the transaction with […]

CMS Unveils Dementia-Focused Payment Model with Interdisciplinary Care Approach

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has unveiled a new payment model demonstration geared toward dementia-related illnesses, which are becoming more prevalent among hospice patients. The Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model is designed to improve the quality of life for dementia patients and their caregivers by addressing behavioral health and […]

Value-Based Care Experience Gives Legacy Hospice Operators a Leg Up on Competition

Payers and private equity investors are among the new entrants stepping deeper into the hospice space. This trend has heated up competition and merger and acquisition (M&A) activity, while posing opportunities for strategic growth in an evolving value-based landscape. The hospice industry has seen a swath of new entrants amid record-level transaction volume and soaring […]

VITAS Sees Census, Workforce Rebound Amid Lingering Headwinds

Workforce and patient census are rebounding for the Chemed Corp. (NYSE: CHE) subsidiary VITAS Healthcare, but financial pressure points remain. The gains have come with significant effort and costs, including the roll out of its recruitment and retention bonus program last July. Since then, the hospice provider has seen sequential improvements during the last four […]