Hospice Sees Uptick in M&A Activity During Q2 2019

The hospice mergers & acquisitions market continues to be robust. Fourteen hospice transactions took place during the second quarter of 2019, up from eight hospice-related acquisitions during the first quarter, according to a report from M&A advisory firm Mertz-Taggart.  The hospice merger and acquisitions market has been thriving in recent years, with several top providers […]

Admissions Boost LHC Group Q2 Hospice Earnings

A 9.6% percent increase in admissions drove strong second quarter earnings results for LHC Group’s (NASDAQ: LHCG) hospice segment. The segment saw the highest rate of admissions growth among the company’s service lines during the second quarter, exceeding the home health segment’s 9.1% rise.  LHC Group currently operates 104 hospice locations nationwide, representing 10.2% of […]

LHC Group Joint Venture Completes Missouri Acquisitions

LHC Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: LHCG) along with joint venture partner Capital Region Medical Center (CRMC) have completed an acquisition of a Mexico, Mo.-based hospice agency from nonprofit health system SSM Health. The purchase also included two home health agencies, also based in Missouri communities. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The three acquired […]

CMS Final Rule Rebases Payment Rates, Changes Election Statement

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has rebased payment rates for the four levels of hospice care in a final rule for Fiscal Year 2020. Among other provisions the rule includes a new requirement that hospices provide an addendum to election statements that would detail care, treatment and services the patient would […]

Hospice, Home Health Yield Highest Multiples in Health Care M&A Deals

The hospice and home health care companies for the third quarter in a row have seen the highest multiples of any health care sector in merger and acquisitions transactions, reaching 22.7x in the second quarter of 2019, according to auditing and consulting firm PwC.  These high valuations for hospice and home health acquisitions come in […]

Hospice Leaders Question Value of Medicare Advantage Hospice Carve-In

Leaders from hospice organizations raised concerns about the forthcoming demonstration of a Medicare Advantage carve-in for hospice. The hospice executives spoke at the National Home Care & Hospice Association’s (NAHC) Financial Management Conference in Chicago. The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) earlier this year announced that it would test coverage of hospice […]

LHC Group ‘Intensely Focused’ on Hospice Growth

The LHC Group (NASDAQ: LHCG) is fueling its hospice growth engine through the company’s hallmark joint venture strategy as well as new acquisitions, according to CFO Josh Proffitt, speaking at the William Blair 2019 Growth Stock Conference in Chicago. LHC Group has targeted an additional 130 markets for hospice expansion in areas where they already […]

Hospice M&A Market Going Strong in 2019

All signs point to a strong showing for hospice mergers and acquisitions through the year and into 2020 as companies and investors shy away from home health in anticipation of potential fallout from the forthcoming patient-driven groupings (PDGM) model. Eight hospice acquisitions took place during the first quarter of 2019, up from seven transactions during […]

LHC Group Accelerates Joint Venture Strategy, Looks to Build Hospice Density

LHC Group Inc. (NASDAQ: LHCG) has revved up its joint venture engine in the early part of 2019. The Lafayette, La.-based provider plans on ramping up the JV strategy in coming months, while simultaneously building hospice density in its existing home health markets. Executives from the company highlighted those 2019 plans during a first-quarter earnings […]

LHC Group Joint Venture Acquires SSM Health Hospice Assets

Joint venture partners LHC Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: LHCG) and Capital Region Medical Center (CRMC) have entered an agreement to purchase one hospice agency in Mexico, Mo., as well as two home health agencies, one located in Jefferson City, Mo. Financial terms of the transaction were undisclosed. The joint venture expects the transaction to close before […]