Careficient Acquires HealthRev Partners

M&A

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:            Dom Yarborough
772-600-4202
Email Careficient

Creach Family Holdings Announces Acquisition of HealthRev Partners

Creach Family Holdings enhances its healthcare offerings by acquiring HealthRev Partners, strengthening its position in the home health and hospice sectors.

JENSEN BEACH, FL, UNITED STATES, December 4, 2024. Creach Family Holdings, a privately held investment firm focused on healthcare technology and tech-enabled services, is excited to announce the acquisition of HealthRev Partners, a leading provider of revenue cycle management (RCM) services for the home health and hospice market. This acquisition complements Creach Family Holdings’ portfolio, which includes Careficient, a top electronic medical record (EMR) provider for home health and hospice agencies.

A Strategic Acquisition

By combining HealthRev Partners’ RCM expertise with Careficient’s innovative EMR platform, Creach Family Holdings aims to offer an integrated suite of solutions that streamline operations, improve revenue cycles, and enhance patient care for home health and hospice providers.

Creating a Seamless Solution for Home Health and Hospice Providers
HealthRev Partners is recognized for its technology-driven solutions that help home health and hospice organizations manage billing, coding, and revenue cycle processes efficiently. This acquisition strengthens Creach Family Holdings’ ability to offer a comprehensive solution to the home health and hospice market, addressing challenges such as regulatory compliance and operational efficiency.

Careficient Acquires HealthRev Partners

The acquisition of HealthRev Partners is a strategic move that expands our ability to serve the home health and hospice sectors, combining their RCM expertise with Careficient’s EMR solution.

Gene Creach

CEO, Careficient

Creating a Seamless Solution for Home Health and Hospice Providers

HealthRev Partners is recognized for its technology-driven solutions that help home health and hospice organizations manage billing, coding, and revenue cycle processes efficiently. This acquisition strengthens Creach Family Holdings’ ability to offer a comprehensive solution to the home health and hospice market, addressing challenges such as regulatory compliance and operational efficiency.

Gene Creach, CEO of Careficient and Senior Manager at Creach Family Holdings, commented, “The acquisition of HealthRev Partners significantly expands our ability to serve the home health and hospice sectors. By combining their revenue cycle management expertise with Careficient’s comprehensive EMR solution, we provide a seamless platform that reduces administrative burdens, improves cash flow, and allows providers to focus on delivering high-quality patient care. This acquisition reflects our commitment to advancing healthcare technology and improving patient outcomes.”

Strengthening Capabilities in the Home Health and Hospice Market

HealthRev Partners’ RCM services are tailored to the needs of the home health and hospice sectors, where managing reimbursements and ensuring compliance are critical. Through this acquisition, HealthRev Partners will benefit from Creach Family Holdings’ operational expertise. The partnership with Careficient allows both organizations to offer the most integrated solution suite for the home health and hospice markets.

Mike Greenlee, CEO of HealthRev Partners, said, “We are thrilled to join Creach Family Holdings. For years, HealthRev Partners has been focused on helping home health and hospice providers optimize their revenue cycles. Now, through this partnership, we can expand our service offerings and technology solutions to create more opportunities for improved client outcomes.”

Expanding Creach Family Holdings’ Healthcare Vision

The acquisition strengthens Creach Family Holdings’ position as a leader in healthcare services and technology, particularly in the home health and hospice markets. By combining the strengths of HealthRev Partners and Careficient, Creach Family Holdings provides healthcare organizations with a data-driven solution that reduces costs, accelerates reimbursements, and improves care delivery.

Bill Creach, Senior Manager for Creach Family Holdings, added, “This acquisition is a critical step in our strategy to become a dominant force in healthcare technology. By combining HealthRev’s RCM expertise with Careficient’s EMR platform, we’re offering healthcare providers the tools they need to succeed in an increasingly complex industry.”

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About Creach Family Holdings

Creach Family Holdings is a privately held investment firm focused on acquiring and growing innovative healthcare companies. The firm is dedicated to transforming the healthcare industry by investing in companies that create long-term value and drive positive change.

About HealthRev Partners

HealthRev Partners provides technology-enabled RCM solutions for the home health and hospice sectors. Their solutions help organizations optimize billing and revenue cycle processes while ensuring regulatory compliance.

About Careficient

Careficient is a next-generation provider of AI-enabled EMR solutions for home health and hospice agencies. Its platform integrates clinical documentation, scheduling, billing, and patient management into a seamless system designed to enhance care delivery and efficiency.

St. Croix Hospice Receives Age-Friendly Certification

Partner News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:                              Bronwyn Pope

851-767-2800

bpope@stcroixhospice.com

St. Croix Hospice Becomes First Hospice Agency to Receive Age-Friendly Care Certification Agency-Wide

OAKDALE, Minn.Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — St. Croix Hospice is proud to announce its achievement of Age-Friendly Care certification, a testament to its unwavering dedication to delivering exceptional, patient-centered care designed to meet the unique needs of older adults at every stage of life.

Age-Friendly Certification

The Age-Friendly Care certification, awarded by Community Health Accreditation Partner, Inc. (CHAP), recognizes providers that implement evidence-based practices designed to meet the specific needs of aging patients. St. Croix has successfully embedded the “4Ms Framework” – What Matters, Medication, Mentation and Mobility – into its care model, ensuring every patient receives comprehensive care aligned with their personal goals and well-being.

“St. Croix Hospice is dedicated to providing compassionate, individualized care tailored to the unique needs of older adults,” said Heath Bartness, Founder CEO of St. Croix Hospice. “The Age-Friendly Care certification further recognizes our long-standing commitment to enhancing quality of life for aging individuals and their families through a compassionate, patient-centered approach. It’s especially important to us that this certification is recognized across our entire organization, reflecting the unified efforts of our teams to ensure every patient receives the highest quality care they deserve.”

4M St. Croix Hospice

Achieving Age-Friendly Care certification required all St. Croix locations to complete specialized training and implement best practices in geriatric care. This ensures that patients’ wishes are honored while prioritizing proper medication use, mental health support, and safe mobility.

The Age-Friendly Care certification aligns with our ongoing efforts to lead the industry in innovation and quality. With more than 90% of our patients aged 65 or older, this national recognition underscores the importance of our commitment to meeting the unique needs of older adults. It validates our clinical practices and serves as a testament to the dedication of our care teams who strive to make a difference for patients and families every day.

Ashley Arnold

Senior VP of Quality, St. Croix

St. Croix Recognized by CHAP

“St. Croix Hospice’s implementation of Age-Friendly Care across their 70+ locations is truly inspiring,” said CHAP Chief Operating Officer Teresa Harbour. “Their integration of the 4Ms Framework—What Matters, Medication, Mentation and Mobility—into daily practices reflects a deep commitment to honoring what matters most to their patients and families. This effort not only raises the bar for compassionate, patient-centered care but also underscores St. Croix Hospice’s role as a leader in the hospice field. At CHAP, we are proud to partner with organizations like St. Croix Hospice that prioritize innovation and excellence at such an impressive scale.”

St. Croix serves 5400 patients daily across the Midwest. Taking an integrated approach to hospice care, the expert team at St. Croix provides physical, emotional and spiritual support that meets the unique needs of each patient. St. Croix teams are stationed in more than 75 branches throughout ten states, ensuring responsive, proximate service to wherever patients call home.

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About CHAP

CHAP is an independent, nonprofit organization accrediting providers of home and community-based care. Founded in 1965, CHAP was first to recognize the need for and value of home and community-based care standards and accreditation. As a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)–approved accrediting organization, CHAP surveys organizations providing home health, hospice, and home medical equipment services to establish if Medicare Conditions of Participation and DMEPOS Quality Standard are met and recommend certification to CMS. CHAP’s purpose is to partner with organizations nationwide to advance quality in the delivery of care and services in the home and community. 

About St. Croix Hospice

St. Croix Hospice supports patients, their families and caregivers, providing compassionate care when it’s needed most. Celebrating 15 years of service, St. Croix Hospice delivers exceptional hospice services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and wherever a patient calls home. With branches in IllinoisIndianaIowaKansasMichiganMinnesotaMissouriNebraskaSouth Dakota and Wisconsin, St. Croix Hospice takes pride in round-the-clock availability, prompt response times and same-day admissions – including during evenings, weekends and holidays. Contact St. Croix Hospice 24/7 at 855-278-2764 or stcroixhospice.com

New Features for Quality and Compliance Software Solution

Partner News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:                    Norbert Hudak
818-523-8125
norbert@qapiplus.com

QAPIplus Launches 3.0 Platform, Enhancing Quality and Compliance for Home Health and Hospice Providers

New user interface, more customizations, enhanced PIPs and EMR integrations make managing quality and compliance programs even easier for home health and hospice organizations.

GLENDALE, Calif.Oct. 14, 2024 — QAPIplus, the first and only comprehensive quality and compliance management solution for home health and hospice, is excited to announce the launch of QAPIplus 3.0.

This significant update introduces a modernized user interface, enhanced features for managing Performance Improvement (PI) projects, and deeper integrations with leading electronic medical record (EMR) systems. These enhancements are designed to streamline workflows, save even more time, and provide an improved user experience for agencies focused on delivering the highest standards of care.

“We listened carefully to feedback from our customers, and QAPIplus 3.0 reflects their needs and priorities. Our users asked for a more intuitive interface and better ways to manage their compliance and quality workflows. With these enhancements, we’re delivering the tools they need to succeed.”

Armine Khudanyan

Co-Founder and CEO, QAPIplus

“This update streamlines the entire quality and compliance workflow even more than before,” said Lara Koraian, Co-Founder and CTO of QAPIplus. “By automating repetitive tasks and improving user management, QAPIplus 3.0 saves agencies valuable time while ensuring that critical compliance needs are met efficiently.”

Top Benefits of QAPIplus 3.0 Include

    • Time Savings: Automated PIPs workflows including progress tracking, assigning specific users, and delegating tasks.
    • Easier Navigation: A modern, streamlined design makes the platform more intuitive and easier to navigate.
    • More Customization: Enhanced control over notifications allows for a more tailored experience for each user.
    • Seamless Data Flow: Enhanced integrations with leading EMR platforms to automatically populate incident data in the QAPIplus platform.
QAPIplus 3.0

With QAPIplus 3.0, home health and hospice agencies can continue to elevate their quality and compliance programs while reducing the administrative burden on staff.

# # #

About QAPIplus

As the only software solution created specifically for home health and hospice organizations that digitizes and automates your quality and compliance programs, QAPIplus empowers you to achieve your highest performance, minimize burden, and improve your bottom line.

QAPIplus is the only quality management software solution to earn CHAP Verification and ACHC Certification for home health and hospice organizations.

This press release originally appeared on PRNewswire and reprinted with permission from QAPIplus. For more information or to request permission to print, use the media contact above.

New EVP for Talent Acquisition

Partner News

Axxess

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:                 Johnathan Eaves
(903) 445-6969
jeaves@axxess.com

Axxess Names Tim Ingram Executive Vice President for Talent Acquisition

His Appointment Will Ensure New Hires Reinforce Its Award-Winning Culture As Company Grows Worldwide

DALLAS, October 21, 2024 – Longtime Axxess leader Tim Ingram has been named Executive Vice President for Talent Acquisition to work closely with company leaders around the world to ensure new hires continue to reinforce the award-winning culture known as The Axxess Way.

A Message from Axxess CEO

“Beyond our industry-leading solutions, our foundational strength has always been and will always continue to be our unique culture,” said John Olajide, founder and CEO of Axxess, the industry leader in care at home technology solutions. “Tim’s demonstrated commitment to excellence and his collaborative and cooperative nature make him the perfect choice to represent our unique culture and work with our team to ensure new hires also embody The Axxess Way as we continue to grow around the world.”

Tim Ingram, in His Own Words

“Axxess is easily the most dynamic and collaborative culture I have ever been part of, and it’s an honor to be responsible for ensuring we find only the smartest, highest-quality team players who can help take Axxess to the next level,” said Ingram, who joined Axxess in 2016 and will continue to serve as Executive Vice President for Interoperability, partnering with industry-changing technology companies to enhance Axxess’ solutions. “Our vision is to be the global home healthcare technology leader, and most admired for our people, partnerships and solutions. Ensuring we achieve our vision starts at the interview.”

Tim's Background

Ingram has more than 20 years of experience in healthcare, including working in software, as well as regulatory and mergers and acquisitions environments. He serves as an ambassador for the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s My Hospice Ambassador program; a member of several committees and councils for both NHPCO and National Association for Home Care and Hospice and is a past board member for the California Hospice and Palliative Care Association. He was named one of DirectTrust’s Interoperability Heroes in 2022.

Tim Ingram Talent Acquisition

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About Axxess

Axxess is the leading global technology platform for healthcare at home. The company offers a robust ecosystem that empowers healthcare organizations and professionals to deliver the highest quality care. By integrating with partners and payers from across the healthcare continuum, more than 9,000 organizations trust the Axxess network to care for more than 5 million patients worldwide. Multiple independent certifications have confirmed that Axxess has the most secure and industry-compliant software solutions. The company’s collaborative culture focused on innovation and excellence is recognized nationally as a “Best Place to Work.”

This press release was originally published by Axxess and is reprinted with permission. For more information or for permission to use this material, please use the media contact above.

Vendor Watch: VitalCaring Cognitive Care Pilot

Partner News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:                                          Nancy Lecroy
VP, Marketing & Communications
VitalCaring
O 469.839.3777
Nancy.lecroy@vitalcaring.com

Kelly Faville
FourSeventeen Communications
On behalf of Constant Therapy Health
M 978-621-6667
kelly@constanttherapy.com

VitalCaring’s AI-driven Cognitive Care Pilot Shows Promising Results

National leader in home health and hospice care to extend AI-enabled speech, language, and cognitive therapy initiative across its network

DALLAS and LEXINGTON, Mass., September 12, 2024 – VitalCaring, a leading national home health and hospice care provider, has unveiled the results of a seven-month AI-driven cognitive care pilot program that delivered enhanced personalized therapy to patients living with cognitive disorders. Through the pilot, VitalCaring deployed Constant Therapy’s digital speech, language, and cognitive therapy platform as part of its home-based services for select patients.

Significant Cognitive Gains

Patients in the program showed statistically significant cognitive improvements, including:

• A 35% increase in Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)* (average score)
• A 33% increase in Saint Louis University Mental Status (SLUMS)*(average score)
• Improvement by at least one cognitive level (55% of patients)
• Achievement of normal cognitive functional score by discharge (35% of patients)

“This pilot program was tailored to fast-track our patients’ journey to regaining independence safely in their homes. Adding innovative tools like the Constant Therapy platform to our existing care plans for cognitive issues and neurological disorders extends the exceptional work of our therapists.”

Janice Riggins

Chief Clinical Officer, VitalCaring

A valuable complement to clinician-supervised therapy

Patients’ ability to independently access Constant Therapy’s therapeutic exercises at home has proven to be a valuable and meaningful complement to clinician-supervised therapy. The aim of the VitalCaring Cognitive Care pilot program was to determine how additional therapy tools could accelerate recovery and maximize cognitive functioning for VitalCaring patients with dementia-related diseases or those recovering from stroke or other brain injuries. On average, each patient in the pilot program was able to access an additional 11 hours of digital therapy on their own. Due to the success of this pilot, VitalCaring will explore opportunities to extend the initiative across its network.

“VitalCaring stands at the forefront of home healthcare innovation, transforming patient experiences and outcomes with advanced technological and analytical approaches,” said Veera Anantha, Founder and CEO of Constant Therapy Health. Our platform supports their practice of providing outstanding, individualized treatment to patients affected by neurological conditions or brain injuries.”

What Caregivers and Family are Saying

  • “Thanks to the AI therapy, my uncle regained his motor skills. He can now operate mobile phones and stay connected with loved ones.” The patient’s MoCA score improved from 14 to 26 – moderate cognitive impairment to normal cognitive ability.
  • “My mother’s ability to hold conversations with friends and family improved significantly after using the AI-driven tools.” The patient’s MoCA score rose from 16 to 27 – moderate cognitive impairment to normal cognitive ability.
  • “Our family noticed remarkable cognitive improvements in my grandfather. He’s better at following events and recalling important information.” The patient’s MoCA score jumped from 17 to 25 – moderate to mild cognitive impairment.
VitalCaring Pilot

# # #

About the VitalCaring Cognitive Care Pilot Program

The pilot program ran from October 2023 through May 2024 and included 52 patients aged 54 to 92, with an average age of 77.45. Patients had various primary diagnoses, including cerebral infarction, brain tumors, dementia (including Alzheimer’s disease), Parkinson’s disease, encephalitis, encephalopathy, and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Patients’ performance was measured by: the Montreal Cognitive Assessment/MoCA and the Saint Louis University Mental Status/SLUMS cognitive screening.

About Contant Therapy Health

Constant Therapy Health is a next-generation digital health company whose technology is clinically proven to improve the efficacy of cognitive, speech, and language therapy, as well as increase access to and reduce the cost of therapy. Constant Therapy, an award-winning mobile program, uses patented AI technology to deliver personalized exercises that rebuild cognitive and speech function for individuals recovering from stroke or traumatic brain injury (TBI) or living with aphasia, dementia, and other neurological conditions. Built by a team of top neuroscientists at Boston University, Constant Therapy is used by tens of thousands of patients as prescribed by their clinicians, helping to create the world’s largest brain rehabilitation database, and providing insights that can improve the effectiveness and efficiency of brain rehabilitation.

About VitalCaring

VitalCaring delivers compassionate, high-quality home-based healthcare to patients in the comfort of their own homes. By bringing together like-minded people who are called to care and supported by a positive organizational culture, VitalCaring is positioned to deliver an exceptional patient experience at every encounter. VitalCaring is a national leader in the home health and hospice industry, serving patients throughout the Southern United States, including Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. From its base in the South, VitalCaring is expanding to serve even more communities nationwide.

This press release was originally published by VitalCaring and is reprinted with permission. For more information or to request permission to reprint, please reach out to the media contacts listed above.

Not All Superheroes Wear Capes

Partner News

by Kristin Rowan, Editor

Some Superheroes are Software Solutions Providers

In August, I had the pleasure of attending the Kantime Superheroes for Success user experience. In the year since I’ve taken over The Rowan Report, I’ve only attended two user events, but I have been an event producer since 2016. The Kantime team delivered a top-notch event that took great care of its attendees.

Education

Of course, there was a fair bit of education centered around the Kantime solution. This was not unexpected, nor unwelcome, as many of the attendees were agency owners actively seeking a new software solution. However, the educational sessions were balanced between Kantime and industry information.

Guest speakers addressed the Home Health Final Rule, the Hospice CAP, Red Flags to spot turnover risk, pediatric care, and more. These breakout sessions followed the opening day general session with Bill Dombi, NAHC President, who provided updates on regulatory issues and the merging of NAHC and NHPCO.

Table Talk and Learning Labs

A unique feature of the Kantime Experience were the open table talk sessions and learning labs. KanTime experts were available to sit with software shoppers to provide insight into each of the Kantime lines of business. For agency owners and executives who are shopping for the right EMR, talking to users rather than sales people is often a good way to get in-depth information in an honest forum. 

Vendors

The general session room was lined on three sides with vendors of many kinds. There were AI solutions, educational companies, billing experts, and more. What was especially nice about this event was the amount of time provided to speak with the vendors throughout the day. 

Closing in Style

The team at Kantime not only provided candid talk about software updates and integrations with partners, but also planned a top-notch Happy Hour and Game Night mid-way through the event. Attendees arrived in superhero costumes from Batman to Obi-Wan. Arcade games, carnival food, costume contest, and DJ rounded out the night. We even caught Bill Dombi and his wife in a spirited round of air hockey. 

Final Thoughts

After attending this event, user experiences and user group meetings have a high bar set for them. I look forward to seeing what other software solutions providers have in store. From an agency perspective, I spoke with many of the attendees about the experience they had. All of them expressed how helpful the event had been in helping them in the decision-making process. Regardless of the software you are considering, attending a user group meeting or experience is a recommended route to gain valuable insight from other agencies who are already using the software you are considering.

A big thank you to the team at Kantime for their invitation and hospitality. I can’t wait to see what they come up with for 2025!

Kantime Superheroes
Kantime Superheroes
Kantime Superheroes
Kantime Superheroes<br />
Kantime Superheroes

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Kristin Rowan, Editor
Kristin Rowan, Editor

Kristin Rowan has been working at Healthcare at Home: The Rowan Report since 2008. She has a master’s degree in business administration and marketing and runs Girard Marketing Group, a multi-faceted boutique marketing firm specializing in event planning, sales, and marketing strategy. She has recently taken on the role of Editor of The Rowan Report and will add her voice to current Home Care topics as well as marketing tips for home care agencies. Connect with Kristin directly kristin@girardmarketinggroup.com or www.girardmarketinggroup.com

©2024 by The Rowan Report, Peoria, AZ. All rights reserved. This article originally appeared in Healthcare at Home: The Rowan Report. One copy may be printed for personal use: further reproduction by permission only. editor@therowanreport.com

InnovAge to Participate in Preventing Falls Study

Partner News

Preventing Falls

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts:                       Lara Hazenfield
InnovAge PR Manager
lhazenfield@innovage.com

John Eddy
Goldin Solutions for InnovAge
InnovAge@goldinsolutions.com

Leading PACE Provider InnovAge Selected to Participate in National Study Focused on Preventing Falls by Seniors

New LeaHD Study Advances as Industry Observes National PACE Awareness Month & Falls Prevention Month

DENVER, CO, Sept. 16, 2024 — InnovAge Holding Corp. (“InnovAge”) (Nasdaq: INNV), a leading Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) provider, has been selected as a research partner for a national study exploring how to prevent falls by seniors. This September’s National PACE Awareness Month and Falls Prevention Month observances emphasize the impact of this timely and critical work aimed at reducing dangerous falls by seniors, as well as helping many others facing a wide range of health conditions.

According to the CDC, falls are the leading cause of injury and death among older adults, with one in four adults aged 65 and older experiencing a fall each year. InnovAge participants average 16% fewer falls than the National PACE Association’s estimated average1 through proactive screening, risk assessments, and personalized interventions designed to prevent falls. As the largest PACE provider (of enrolled participants), InnovAge provides comprehensive emotional, physical, and social support to older adults through 24/7, integrated care.

As the U.S. population aged 65 and older is projected to grow 47% by 2050, affordable and accessible alternatives to nursing homes, like PACE, are more important than ever. As part of InnovAge’s commitment to enabling seniors to age safely in their homes and communities, participants receive a holistic care approach that includes access to doctors, dentists, physical therapists, home health aides, dietitians, and social workers. By proactively addressing all of the complex factors that impact health, PACE aims to increase longevity and quality of life for older adults. For most eligible seniors, all medically necessary care and services are provided for free through PACE.

“We believe that the PACE model is integral to creating a safer, healthier, and more independent future for our seniors,” said Patrick Blair, CEO and President of InnovAge. “National PACE Awareness Month is an excellent opportunity to deepen our education efforts about the transformative benefits PACE offers participants and their families.”

“Our participation in the LeaHD study is a testament to our dedication to advancing research and evidence-based practices that directly impact senior health and safety,” said Dr. Ann Wells, Chief Population Health and Clinical Value Officer of InnovAge. “This study will help us better understand the multi-faceted factors contributing to falls among seniors and develop intervention strategies tailored to their unique needs.”

Preventing Falls InnovAge Dr. Ann Wells

InnovAge was selected by LeaHD, a research and training center established in partnership with Brown University, Boston University, and University of Pittsburgh in the Center on Health Services Training and Research (CoHSTAR). Dr. Wells and the LeaHD team will work collaboratively in the study to advance the training of scientists in rehabilitation and long-term services, focusing on fall risk prediction to enhance senior healthcare outcomes. Their combined research also includes efforts improve the lives of adults living with disabilities and chronic conditions. The study is expected to be completed in October 2025.

# # #

About InnovAge

InnovAge is a market leader in managing the care of high-cost, frail, and predominantly dual-eligible seniors through the Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). With a mission of enabling older adults to age independently in their own homes for as long as safely possible, InnovAge’s patient-centered care model is designed to improve the quality of care its participants receive while reducing over-utilization of high-cost care settings. InnovAge believes its PACE healthcare model is one in which all constituencies — participants, their families, providers, and government payors — “win.” As of June 30, 2024, InnovAge served approximately 7,020 participants across 20 centers in six states. www.InnovAge.com

This press release was submitted to us by InnovAge and is reprinted by permission. See our accompanying article this week on the home care patient who died after a fall.

Help Those Impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton

Partner News

How to Help

Cash is an effective and immediate way to help, allowing on-the-ground charities to purchase the supplies they need when they need them. 

    • The Salvation Army is providing emergency aid, food, drinks, emotional and spiritual care, and critical supplies to survivors and rescue workers in five states. There are no administration fees associated with Salvation Army donations and 100% of your donation goes directly to disaster relief. You can donate to the disaster relief fund here.
    • Mercy Chefs provide meal service across North Carolina. They are providing meals for hospital employees and patient families. You can donate here.
    • GoFundMe fundraisers are abundant right now, if you want to donate to a specific family. GoFundMe has a vetted group of Hurricane Helene requests and a separate Hurricane Relief Fund. You can donate here.
    • The American Red Cross allows you to donate specifically to people affected by the hurricanes, as a general donation to any disaster, or to a fund called “Where It is Needed Most.” The two general funds allow the Red Cross to use those funds as they need to and doesn’t run the risk of getting caught in an unusable fund. You can donate here.

Volunteering opportunities are available if you are near the areas impacted by the hurricanes.

    • The Salvation Army has both credentialed and non-credentialed volunteer opportunities in the emergency disaster areas. Get more information here.
    • Mercy Chefs is looking for volunteers in Asheville, NC and may have other opportunities available soon. You can sign up to volunteer here.
    • The American Red Cross has volunteer opportunities for blood drives, transportation, disaster teams, and shelters. You can find more information here.

Donations of clothing, furniture, home goods, and other needed items.

    • It is recommended that if you want to donate physical items, please wait a couple of weeks until the initial cash donations stop coming in and the volunteer organizations are able to assess the needs of each community. Physical items are not helpful until a family is permanently relocated and those items don’t have to be stored.

Additional resources, places to donate, and volunteer opportunities are easy to find online.

    • Before you do anything, make sure you are vetting the organization, especially if it’s not one that is nationally recognized like the Salvation Army or the Red Cross.
    • Look for volunteer opportunities with smaller organizations that may not get as much publicity as the Red Cross. For example, this site lists opportunities with local volunteer firefighters, Marion County medical reserve corps, and the Lake County department of health, among others.
    • The American Red Cross South Florida Region has a virtual volunteer opportunity to offer comfort to those affected by the storms. This is a great opportunity to help if you are not in the southern region and/or cannot donate.

Telehealth Grant to Address Disparities

Partner News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:                                          Gina Cella
gcella@americantelemed.org
781-799-3137

AMERICAN TELEMEDICINE ASSOCIATION RECEIVES GRANT FROM PETERSON HEALTH TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE TO ENHANCE WORK IN USING TELEHEALTH TO ADDRESS DISPARITIES

WASHINGTON, DC, SEPTEMBER 24, 2024 – The American Telemedicine Association (ATA) today announced the organization has received a grant from the Peterson Health Technology Institute (PHTI) to enhance its US Digital Infrastructure Disparities Score (DIS) and heat map tools with additional data sets and visualization tools, to highlight key infrastructure gaps and identify specific interventions that support actionable, measurable, and accountable deployment.

The Disparities Score and heat map tools, developed by the ATA CEO’s Advisory Group on Using Telehealth to Eliminate Healthcare Disparities and Inequities, will enable data-informed decisions and targeted allocation of resources to improve access to digital services and reduce disparities. The score is a composite measure and can be viewed at a ZIP code or county level. The premise of the map is to highlight key infrastructure gaps and support stakeholders in understanding how and where to invest scarce resources to improve access to digital services.

“Beyond the ability to just view broadband connectivity in a region, our Disparities Score and heat map tools are materially different, with composite representation of broadband access, plus connection speeds, connection modalities, and data affordability,” said Ann Mond Johnson, CEO of the ATA.

“This critical funding will be used to enhance these tools by incorporating additional data sets, developing enhanced data visualization tools, and improving the design interface and user experience.

Teleheatlh Grant to Address Disparities

We are grateful to the Peterson Health Technology Institute for their generous support of our work, to enable data-informed decisions pertaining to the allocation of resources to reduce disparities.”

The Disparities Advisory Group is co-chaired by Kristi Henderson, DNP, Yasmine Winkler and Ron Wyatt, MD, and facilitated by David Smith, CEO of Third Horizon Strategies.

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About the Peterson Health Technology Institute

The Peterson Health Technology Institute (PHTI) provides independent evaluations of innovative healthcare technologies to improve health and lower costs. Through its rigorous, evidence-based research, PHTI analyzes the clinical benefits and economic impact of digital health solutions, as well as their effects on health equity, privacy, and security. These evaluations inform decisions for providers, patients, payers, and investors, accelerating the adoption of high-value technology in healthcare. PHTI was founded in 2023 by the Peterson Center on Healthcare. For more information, please visit PHTI.org.

About the ATA

As the only organization completely focused on advancing telehealth, the American Telemedicine Association is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to safe, affordable, and appropriate care when and where they need it, enabling the system to do more good for more people. The ATA represents a broad and inclusive member network of leading healthcare delivery systems, academic institutions, technology solution providers and payers, as well as partner organizations and alliances, working to advance industry adoption of telehealth, promote responsible policy, advocate for government and market normalization, and provide education and resources to help integrate virtual care into emerging value-based delivery models. 

Managed Care Support

Partner News

Axxess<br />

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:                  Christine Stein
(214) 435-6731
cstein@axxess.com

Axxess Partners with strategic health care to offer Managed care support to clients

DALLAS, September 26, 2024 – Axxess, the leading global technology innovator for healthcare at home, has partnered with Strategic Health Care, a leading provider of managed care solutions, to offer Axxess clients managed care support, helping them enhance profitability and drive business optimization.

Through this collaboration Axxess clients have access to services provided by Strategic Health Care, including managed care contracting and credentialing, value-based reimbursement, revenue optimization and network development.

“Through this partnership we are providing our clients with the tools needed to thrive in the ever-evolving managed care landscape,” said Chris Taylor, senior vice president of channel partnerships at Axxess. “These services are designed to provide Axxess clients the support needed to succeed in managed care, helping them navigate industry challenges and enabling them to focus on care delivery.”

Strategic Health Care<br />

Strategic Health Care and Axxess are focused on helping clients scale their business and increase profits.

“Even the best care at home providers are struggling to make managed care work,” said Joe Russell, vice president of network management and contracting at Strategic Health Care. “We want to show providers that there’s a world where providers can win and win big. That’s why we’re so excited for the partnership with Axxess. When Axxess clients have managed care related issues, we want them to know they have partner they can rely on where it matters most.”

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About Axxess

Axxess is the leading global technology innovator for healthcare at home, focused on solving the most complex industry challenges. Trusted by more than 9,000 organizations that serve more than 5 million patients worldwide, Axxess offers a complete suite of easy-to-use software solutions that empower home health, home care, hospice, and palliative providers to make healthcare in the home human again. Multiple independent certifications have confirmed that Axxess has the most secure and industry-compliant software available for providers. The company’s collaborative culture focused on innovation and excellence is recognized nationally as a “Best Place to Work.”

About Strategic Health Care

For over twenty-five years, Strategic Health Care has earned a reputation in the health plan industry as a knowledgeable and fair representative for provider clients. The highly experienced team of contracting experts at Strategic Health Care ensure providers have access to the reimbursement they need to continue to provide quality patient care.

BREAKING NEWS: Blumenauer Proposes Hospice Overhaul

Breaking News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:      Portland District Office
503-231-2300

blumenauer proposes overhaul to hospice benefit

If enacted, the legislation would be the single most significant update to the hospice benefit and payment structure since its inception in 1982

WASHINGTON, D.C., SEPTEMBER 26, 2024 – Today, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), a senior member of the Ways and Means Committee, introduced the Hospice Care Accountability, Reform and Enforcement Act (Hospice CARE Act) to modernize Medicare’s hospice benefit, which has remained largely unchanged since its inception in 1982. The proposal comes as egregious reports of fraud and abuse within the benefit persist, despite action from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The legislation is the product of years of collaboration between stakeholders, lawmakers, and industry leaders. It builds on Blumenauer’s decades-long commitment to ensure the federal government supports families at a time of great stress and vulnerability: the end of life. 

“The United States spends significantly more on health care than other developed nations for worse outcomes. Nowhere is this more egregious than in the hospice industry,” said Congressman Earl Blumenauer. “Patients and families deserve better. We need a reset. It is past time for Congress to act to end the fraud, waste, and abuse within the hospice benefit and bring it into the 21st century.”

To protect patients and taxpayers, the Hospice CARE Act would institute a number of long overdue reforms to crackdown on fraud while incentivizing high-quality care. Critically, it would:

    • Reform the payment structure: The underlying hospice per-diem payment structure—which generally pays hospices for each day of care regardless of if care is provided on a given day—rewards bad actors who exploit the benefit for financial gain. The legislation revises the payment structure to ensure that providers are incentivized to deliver high-quality care and meet the current needs of individuals and their families.
    • Bolster program integrity: Additional safeguards and oversight is needed to prevent fraudulent providers from enrolling in Medicare, especially for new hospices. That includes temporarily preventing new hospices from enrolling in Medicare, with exceptions where additional access to care is needed, increasing survey frequency, and increasing ownership transparency

A one-page fact sheet can be found here. Bill text here

“The hospice benefit, while unique, is ripe for change. This legislation is a first-of-its-kind opportunity to improve it,” said Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO, LeadingAge, the association of nonprofit providers of aging services, including hospice, on the Hospice Care Accountability, Reform and Enforcement (CARE) Act of 2024. “Revising a benefit that has not been altered significantly since its creation in 1982 is a formidable undertaking – but a necessary one. Done right, changes will expand the benefit to support the realities of modern-day hospice care and address vulnerabilities that are currently being exploited.  There is more work to do and we look forward to continuing our productive partnership to ensure this bill achieves these goals.” 

 “The National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI) is thankful for the work of Congressman Blumenauer, his staff, and the Ways and Means Committee staff who worked with the hospice and advanced illness community to put forward the Hospice Care Accountability, Reform, and Enforcement (CARE) Act. This legislation is an encouraging and unique opportunity to consider reforms that would strengthen the Medicare hospice benefit by ensuring it continues to support patients, families, and the non-profit providers who were the original foundation of hospice care,” said Tom Koutsoumpas, CEO and founder of NPHI. “We look forward to continuing to work closely with Congress and relevant stakeholders on efforts to modernize the hospice benefit and improve care of those at the end-of-life.

“The Coalition to Transform Advanced Care (C-TAC), truly appreciates the introduction of the Hospice Care Accountability, Reform, and Enforcement (Hospice CARE) Act. We commend Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-3rd) for this important work and for his decades of support for compassionate end-of-life care and for bringing policies to the national stage with bi-partisan support,” stated Jon Broyles, C-TAC CEO.  “We have had the privilege to work with the Congressman, his staff, Ways & Means Committee staff and other advocates on this bill and it is an important starting point for ideas that will lead to modernizing the hospice program and improving the lives of people with serious illness and their family caregivers.”

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This press release was issued by the office of U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer, representing the 3rd district of Oregon. The original press release can be found here. The Rowan Report has reached out to The Alliance for Care at Home for comment.

NAHC NHPCO Announcement

Partner News

Press Release | Sept. 5, 2024

The National Alliance for Care at Home will Combine the Strengths of the Two Largest National Organizations Representing Healthcare Providers Delivering Care Primarily in Homes

The Alliance Will Provide Unparalleled Resources and Representation to Support the Care-at-Home Community

(Alexandria, VA and Washington, DC – September 5, 2024) – The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) today unveiled the new name and logo, as well as the initial website, of the new national organization that will carry forward the work of serving home care, home health, hospice, and palliative care providers as they deliver patients the highest-quality care in their own homes and communities. This new organization will expand on the visions of NAHC and NHPCO to support the full spectrum of providers that offer care in the multitude of settings Americans call home, and the communities in which they live. The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) will deliver resources, education, and information to help members grow their organizations, and will serve as the united voice of the member community advocating for policies that advance the provision of high-quality care for patients and their families. 

The National Alliance for Care at Home

The National Alliance for Care at Home Logo

The National Alliance for Care at Home logo is both an homage to the past, and a symbol of the future. The logo weaves together visual representations symbolizing NAHC and NHPCO, the legacy organizations coming together to form this new Alliance. NAHC’s logo has long included a waving American flag. The icon in the Alliance logo is shaped like a five-pointed star, inspired by the flag iconography. The icon draws visual and symbolic inspiration from the NHPCO logo, which includes a lotus flower icon to represent the integration of types of care and the interdisciplinary care team. The sections of the new Alliance logo are stylized people, standing together in a circle, and holding hands. The negative space between them can be seen as an icon for house or home. Thus, the logo

represents providers across the continuum of care coming together to support a better future for care in the home. The logo concept is based on guidance from a workgroup of members, whose inputs shaped the Alliance’s brand. 

The Alliance also launched its integration website today at AllianceForCareAtHome.org. In addition to providing information on the Alliance, this new website serves as a single sign-on hub for members. With single sign-on, the resources of both legacy organizations will be available to all members of either NAHC or NHPCO with one, unified log-in. The new site offers an updated Find a Provider tool to help consumers find providers of home care, home health, hospice, and palliative care. This resource pulls together NAHC’s Agency Locator and NHPCO’s Find a Care Provider. In the coming weeks, Alliance members will gain access to a combined set of 29 online member communities to enable professional exchange of ideas and best practices. The Alliance is working on a new website to launch in 2025; the new site, which will be housed at the same URL, will bring together top assets from the robust suite of member benefits offered across both NAHC and NHPCO’s legacy sites. During the development of the new site, the Alliance’s integration site will serve as a portal to access resources across the two legacy sites. 

“Providers offering various forms of care at home have always looked to our national associations to help create a shared vision for the future,” said Kenneth Albert, Chair of the Alliance’s Transition Board. “It took real imagination, dedication, and guts to take on the tough conversations about combining two organizations, each with more than 40 years of history. This Alliance will be the leading authority on transforming care in the home. We will implement that mission under a new name that welcomes providers across the care continuum to join – the National Alliance for Care at Home. The logo shows people coming together, hand in hand. That is exactly what we will do in this new Alliance – work collectively to imagine what the future of care in home settings can and should look like, and then to bring that vision to reality.”

“The National Alliance for Care at Home name, and the Alliance’s logo, represent the future of what our members will do together. Providers delivering care in patients’ homes will work through the Alliance to learn, connect, and grow. The Alliance will be your advocate, your resource, and your network to help you reach your goals,” said Melinda Gruber, Vice Chair of the Alliance’s Transition Board. “Rolling out our new name and logo, sharing the new website – these are just the beginning. In the coming months we will continue to integrate the strengths of these two longstanding organizations to provide members with an unprecedented national community and the resources you need to thrive in the future.” 

In March of 2023, NAHC and NHPCO announced that they were exploring collaboration opportunities. That kicked off a process of member consultation and input that culminated in an agreement to combine the two organizations into a new Alliance, with integration work beginning July 1, 2024. On August 26, the Alliance announced that Steve Landers, MD, MPH, would become its first CEO. Through the remainder of 2024 and into 2025, the Alliance will continue the process of integrating NAHC and NHPCO operations into a single organization. Details will be shared with members each step of the way. Throughout the integration process, members can continue accessing benefits through their legacy memberships. 

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About the National Alliance for Care at Home

The National Alliance for Care at Home is a new national organization representing providers of home care, home health, hospice, palliative care, and other health care services mainly delivered in the home. The Alliance brings together two organizations with nearly 90 years of combined experience: the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO). NAHC and NHPCO are in the process of combining operations to better serve members and lead into the future of care offered in the home. Learn more at www.AllianceForCareAtHome.org.

Press Contacts

Tom Threlkeld, NAHC Director of Communications
tom@nahc.org  |  202-547-7424

Elyssa Katz, NHPCO Marketing and Communications Manager
ekatz@nhpco.org  |  571-281-0220

Carolinas Foundation Receives Grant

Partner News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 19, 2024
Media Contact: Susan Franklin
919-848-3450 sue@ahhcnc.org

Carolinas Foundation for Hospice & Home Care Awarded $50,000 Grant for New In-Home Aide Onboarding Program

Raleigh, NC, August 19, 2024 – The Carolinas Foundation for Hospice & Home Care announce they received a $50,000 grant from the CCME Foundation, a North Carolina-based non-profit Foundation sponsored by Constellation Quality Health, for their August 2024 – July 2025 grant cycle. The CCME Foundation received over 100 applications for this grant, and fourteen were awarded to nonprofit organizations in North and South Carolina. Awardees were selected based on each project’s impact on health care improvement and ability to provide access for individuals and communities, particularly those who are uninsured and underserved.

Carolinas Foundation Grant AHHC of NC

Left to right: The Carolinas Foundation for Hospice & Home Care Project Director, Susan Harmuth, Constellation Quality Health President & CEO, Steven Martin, MHA, CPHQ, FACHE, CCME Executive Director, Dori DeJong, MPA, and The Carolinas Foundation for Hospice & Home Care Executive Director, Judy Penn

This grant will be used to kick start several essential year one activities, as part of an overall 2.5 year envisioned project to develop an industry recommended, standardized training curriculum and onboarding program, for newly hired in-home aides that provide non-nurse aide level personal care services. A train-the-trainer program will also be developed to accompany the training curriculum, to help ensure the quality and consistency of training provided. 

The Carolinas Foundation for Hospice and Home Care will be working with several key stakeholder groups, as well as seeking input from a cross-section of NC licensed home care agencies, as we develop the tools envisioned. Once the training curriculum, onboarding model, and train-the-trainer program have been developed, these products will be piloted in as many as 12 North Carolina licensed home care agencies. The broader project will also include development of a certificate to be issued to in-home aides who successfully complete the training and competency requirements.  Certificates will be issued by participating licensed home care agencies, through the Association for Home and Hospice Care of North Carolina. 

The Carolinas Foundation for Hospice and Home Care is currently working to secure the additional funding needed to fully implement this major in-home aide workforce initiative. Judy Penn, Executive Director stated, “We are extremely grateful for grant funding from the CCME Foundation to enable us to begin work on this important workforce project, which will ultimately benefit licensed home care agencies in both North and South Carolina.” 

The Carolinas Foundation for Hospice & Home Care is a non-profit foundation that was established in 1998 by the Association for Home and Hospice Care of North Carolina.
The mission of the Foundation is to support innovation that improves access to quality hospice and home care services in North Carolina.
Key focus areas of the Foundation include:

  1. Building and supporting the retention of a quality workforce
  2. Determine and promote the economic impact of hospice and home care services on local communities and the State
  3. Develop partnerships with appropriate health care delivery systems to ensure hospice and home care are included as an essential component of the new emerging care models.

The Foundation is supported by individual and corporate donations, special fundraising events, and private and public grants. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is made up of twelve trustees who are educated and experienced members of the hospice and home care community.

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AlayaCare to Work With Multi-State Provider

Partner News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:                                     Steph Davidson

steph.davidson@alayacare.com

AlayaCare Selected as Agency Management Platform of Record by Premier Home Health Care

NEW YORK, NY – August 14, 2024 – AlayaCare, a global technology platform for home and community-based care, announced today that it has been chosen as the end-to-end Electronic Health Record (EHR) of choice by Premier Home Health Care Services, Inc., a comprehensive Licensed Home Care Services Agency (LHCSA) and home health care provider based in New York and serving clients across multiple states, including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Florida, Illinois, and North Carolina. 

Premier, which provides high-quality care to over 15,000 people under service weekly, will be migrating its legacy EHR software to AlayaCare’s modern, cloud-based home care platform. This partnership is founded on AlayaCare’s support for multiple service lines to fuel Premier’s growth across its Medicaid skilled and personal care businesses, with the caregiver experience at the heart of it all. 

AlayaCare’s commitment to leveraging data and technology to optimize care delivery for caregivers and clients aligns with Premier’s focus on the employee experience. “Engaging and retaining our workforce is not just about numbers; it’s about nurturing a supportive environment where every caregiver feels valued and empowered,” said Dr. Marshalina Ramos, President and COO at Premier.  

With AlayaCare as its EHR partner, Premier will be able to utilize a modern technology stack to handle scale and to drive better care coordination using best practices in Artificial Intelligence (AI), advanced workflow automation capabilities, and an industry-leading open-API architecture to streamline administrative operations. AlayaCare will transform everything from intake and care plans through to compliance, scheduling, and eligibility monitoring, driving growth and improving experiences for both the care team and the client.  

“At Premier Home Health Care Services, we are dedicated to continuous innovation in our care delivery,” said Dr. Ramos. “Partnering with AlayaCare represents a significant step forward in our mission to revolutionize home-based care through advanced technology. By leveraging cutting-edge solutions and fostering ease of partnerships, we are poised to disrupt the market and set new standards in the quality and efficiency of care. This collaboration underscores our commitment to enhancing the caregiver experience and ensuring exceptional outcomes for our clients.” 

“We are thrilled to partner with Premier Home Health Care Services as their EHR of choice,” said Adrian Schauer, CEO and Founder of AlayaCare. “This collaboration is a testament to our shared vision of harnessing cutting-edge technology to revolutionize home-based care. By digitizing and modernizing care delivery, we ensure that caregivers are equipped with the tools they need to provide exceptional care, and clients receive the highest quality of care in the comfort of their homes. Together, we are not only improving operational efficiency but also transforming the very experience of care for both caregivers and clients.” 

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About AlayaCare

AlayaCare is an end-to-end software platform for public, private, non-profit, and community home-based care organizations that manages the entire client lifecycle, including needs assessments, care plans, scheduling, visit and route optimization, and visit verification. Founded in 2014 and now with over 500 employees, AlayaCare combines traditional in-home and virtual care solutions that enable care providers to lower the cost of care and achieve better outcomes for their clients. For more information, visit: AlayaCare.com

About Premier Home Health Care Services, Inc.

Premier Home Health Care Services, Inc. is a clinician-run organization and a leading provider of personalized home health care, dedicated to improving the quality of life for individuals and families across multiple states. With a focus on compassionate care and innovation, Premier delivers tailored health care solutions that enhance patient outcomes in the comfort of their homes. 

Our comprehensive care management approach ensures that each client receives coordinated and continuous care, designed to meet their unique needs and support their overall well-being. As an Article 49 Care Management organization, Premier also assists health plans, providers, and individuals in navigating the complexities of the health care system, ensuring seamless access to the necessary services and support. 

Operating in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, and Connecticut, Premier fosters a family-like environment for both clients and staff, offering union representation in New York to support our team members. 

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