BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (March 5, 2021)—On average, 76% of health systems and physician groups would send more referrals to post-acute care providers that enable greater electronic data access, according to a new survey from MatrixCare. This is up from more than 60% of home-based care referral sources last year, underscoring the growing importance of interoperability.
HomeCare News
Washington, DC (March 4, 2021)—Homecare and hospice are changing at an unprecedented rate. Last year agencies faced two of their biggest challenges—COVID-19 and Patient Driven Groupings Model (PDGM)—on top of staffing shortages. As a result, the sector is evolving and needs national research to guide efforts and help define what it means to provide health care in the home.
WATERLOO, Iowa (March 4, 2021) – VGM’s annual Heartland Conference has shifted from June 14–16 to Sept. 13–15, 2021. All networking and educational events will remain the same, including tracks in respiratory; accessibility; rehab; leadership; operations; billing and reimbursement; and sales, marketing, and retail and more.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 4, 2021)—A coalition of innovative health care companies has launched a group called Moving Health Home to fundamentally change the way policymakers think about the home as a site of clinical service. Americans want to receive health care in their homes. Evidence from the pandemic shows it's possible, and data proves it is safe and effective.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 4, 2021)—The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced additional Biden-Harris Administration appointments, building on an experienced team committed to President Biden’s mission to end the COVID-19 pandemic, expand affordable health care and advance equity.
DENVER (March 4, 2021)—InnovAge Holding Corp. announced the pricing of its initial public offering of 16,666,667 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $21.00 per share. The shares are expected to begin trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (Nasdaq) under the ticker symbol “INNV” on March 4, 2021, and the offering is expected to close on March 8, 2021, subject to customary closing conditions.
DUNBRIDGE, Ohio, (March 3, 2021)—Principle Business Enterprises, Inc. (PBE) celebrates 60 years of manufacturing safety and absorbent products for the health care industry by announcing the evolution of its Tranquility brand of incontinence products and ongoing commitment to being an employer of choice.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 3, 2021)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has published the Revised January 2021 DMEPOS Fee Schedule. In the announcement, CMS stated that errors were identified in the original fee schedule that was published on Dec. 11, 2020 and this new fee schedule includes adjustments to 919 HCPCS codes.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 2, 2021)—The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) has received additional clarification on Medicare coverage policies for home health agencies.
NAHC has reported on responses from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on several key outstanding question. In that report NAHC noted follow-up was needed on two of CMS’s responses.
DALLAS (March 2, 2021)—A new home health software integration will help care at home organizations manage documents with protected health information as they engage physicians. Axxess, a technology provider for care at home, has integrated its home health solution with Doctor Alliance, which provides an easy-to-use system engaging physicians that streamlines the process of providing patient care.
NEW YORK (March 2, 2021)—Crain’s New York Business, in partnership with Empire BlueCross BlueShield, honored 50 health heroes as part of the 2020 Whole Health Heroes Awards. Among this year’s honorees was Lori Ames, national Secretary-Treasurer of the Home Healthcare Workers of America (HHWA).
CARY, N.C. (March 2, 2021)—Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) reaffirms its status as a national leader in home health accreditation with its recent renewal as an approved accreditor for Medicare providers by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
NEW YORK (March 2, 2021)—Tomorrow Health, a patient-first platform for home-based care, today announced a partnership with Geisinger Health Plan (GHP) to provide more than half a million patients with access to curated home durable medical equipment (DME) and supplies.
ST. LOUIS (March 2, 2021)—Responsive Respiratory expands its sleep market offering with the introduction of the next generation of the Purify O3–the Elite Series.
The Purify O3 Elite features user‐friendly touch‐to‐activate controls. Lightweight and easy to use, the sleek design with visual feedback for users includes an illuminated disinfection progress ring and lighted battery life indicator.
CARY, N.C. (March 2, 2021)—To better meet current demands in the health care industry, Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) has developed two new distinctions for DMEPOS-accredited organizations.
REYKJAVIK, Iceland (March 2, 2021)—Össur, a global provider in the orthotics and prosthetics (O&P) industry, announced that the company will be carbon neutral in 2021, its 50th anniversary year. Originally founded in February 1971, the company has demonstrated successful growth since its initial public listing in 1999.
Birmingham, ALABAMA (February 26, 2021)—Private duty homecare providers have a lot of opportunities for growth—but also face significant hurdles, from increased spending on personal protective equipment (PPE) to potential challenges like a $15/hour federally mandated minimum wage and other worker protections, National Association for Homecare and Hospice President Bill Dombi said at a recent panel.
WASHINGTON, DC (February 26, 2021)—The Council for Quality Respiratory Care—a coalition of the nation's leading home respiratory therapy providers and manufacturing companies—partnered with the American Association for Homecare and The VGM Group in sending a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Acting Administrator Elizabeth Richter urging the agency to finalize the
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (February 26, 2021)‚National Seating & Mobility (NSM), a provider of comprehensive mobility solutions, is expanding service offerings at the company’s Las Vegas branch with the addition of full-service home access options. Industry veteran Kevin McManus will join the NSM team to oversee home access services throughout the region.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 26, 2021)—ResMed’s Vice President of Global Government Affairs and Market Access, Larissa D’Andrea, has accepted the open position on the Executive Committee for AAHomecare. The open position became available following another merger within the industry, and the association reached out to the talented and committed advocate to fill the position. D’Andrea most recently sat on the board of directors for the association.