Read the latest from HomeCare contributors on how to run your home health agency, whether you're providing skilled care and therapy, managing a care plan, working in the hospice field or supporting personal care.  

Always Best Care Announces New Vice President of Franchise Development

ROSEVILLE, Calif. (May 17, 2022)—Always Best Care Senior Services, a senior care franchise system in the United States, announced that business development and sales professional Sean Hart has been named Vice President of Franchise Development. In his new role, Hart will lead the brand’s aggressive national growth strategy into new and existing markets across the country.

CMS Restores Optional Benefits for Independent Homecare Aids

BIRMINGHM, Ala. (May 13, 2022)—Medicaid can directly pay for independent home health aides' benefits, including health insurance and skills training, according to a final rule the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued Thursday. The final rule allows State Medicaid agencies to provide home health aides not working with an agency employee benefit premiums and union dues deducted from their paychecks. 

Best Life Brands Achieves Milestone Of 500 Locations

TROY, Mich. (May 12, 2022)—Best Life Brands, LLC, a multi-brand franchised organization that includes Blue Moon Estate Sales, CarePatrol, ComForCare, At Your Side Home Care, and Boost Home Healthcare has achieved 500 franchise locations across all brands in the United States and Canada. The milestone underscores the company’s position as the premier organization serving people along the continuum of care.

CareCentrix Names Carmella Sebastian Chief Medical Officer

HARTFORD, Conn. (May 3, 2022)—CareCentrix, a home-centered care company, has named longtime health plan executive and physician Carmella Sebastian, M.D., M.S., as chief medical officer. Sebastian most recently served as vice president of clinical operations at Oscar Health, and before that, held leadership roles at Florida Blue, Humana, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Report: Providers in Value-Based Purchasing Model Have Higher Performance Scores

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 28, 2022)—Home health providers participating in the Home Health Value-Based Purchasing (HHVBP) model are performing 7% better than their counterparts, according to a new report from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovations (CMMI). The model covers Medicare-certified home health providers in Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, Florida, Washington, Arizona, Iowa, Nebraska and Tennessee. 

Homewatch CareGivers Announces Multiple New Partnerships to Expand Care Services

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo. (April 28, 2022)—Homewatch CareGivers, a provider of full-service homecare, is furthering its mission to provide tailored services to communities around the country with the announcement of its collaborations with Chefs For Seniors, healthAlign acquired by The Helper Bees, Viventium and Paradigm Senior Services.

Bipartisan Push in Congress to Make Medicare Enrollment Easier

WASHIGNTON, D.C. (April 28, 2022)—Legislation has recently been introduced that would work to improve the Medicare enrollment process for individuals nearing Medicare eligibility, aged 60-64. Longtime homecare champions Sens. Bob Casey (D-Pennsylvania) and Todd Young (R-Indiana) are leading the charge for the Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification 2.0 (BENES 2.0) Act, (S. 2675).

Aveanna Healthcare to Pay Family Caregivers in Arizona

ATLANTA (April 14, 2022)—Aveanna Healthcare Holdings, Inc., a diversified homecare platform focused on providing care to medically complex, high-cost patient populations, announced it will participate in Arizona's Family Licensed Health Aide Program (LHA), a program in the state of Arizona that will allow Aveanna to train eligible family members to be paid for caring for loved ones in their homes.