Latest News
The most recent news, announcements, and regulatory updates for home health, hospice, and supportive care at home
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Death of ALF Resident
by Kristin Rowan, Editor – The family of 85-year-old assisted living facility resident Robert Pollmann filed a wrongful death suit against ALF owners Levi and Holly Walker after the resident wandered out of the facility, was unnoticed for 40 minutes, and was found dead two days later of heat exposure.
UnitedHealth Causes Heightened Alarm
by Kristin Rowan, Editor – Following UnitedHealth Group’s failure to adequately respond to Senate inquiries, and the addition of additional whistleblower reports and wrongful death lawsuits, Senators Wyden and Warren have sent a demand letter for information with a January 28 deadline.
LEAD Replaces REACH
By Kristin Rowan, Editor – CMS has announced that it will replace the current ACO Reach Model with the new LEAD Model beginning in January of 2027. The new model aims to improve participation among hospice and palliative care agencies and patients. Registration for Participation begins in March, 2026.
Overtime Ruling Upheld
by Kristin Rowan, Editor – a court of appeals has upheld a ruling that a home care agency in Pennsylvania violated the FLSA when it failed to pay minimum wage and overtime wages to its caregivers. Despite the agency’s arguments to the contrary, the court of appeals upheld the earlier ruling that the DOL can interpret the FLSA statutes.
2025 Caregiver Survey: An Interview with Stephen Vaccaro
by Kristin Rowan, Editor – The Rowan Report sits down with HHAeXchange President Stephen Vaccaro to talk about their 2025 Caregiver Survey, the state of the industry, and the future of care at home.
House Passes Health Care Reform Bill
by Kristin Rowan, Editor- Today the House of Representatives passed a bill to reform health care, including changes to PBM and Association Health Plans, but excludes any mention of the extension of the ACA subsidies.
AI Adoption Risk in Home Health and Hospice
by Bill Dombi and Jason Bring – AI adoption in home health and hospice increases regulatory risk from nondiscrimination, to CMS reimbursement to HIPAA requirements.
Fraud and Abuse Compliance
by Elizabeth E. Hogue, Esq. – Fraud and Abuse Compliance Programs are required for all providers. Working on it is no longer good enough.
What can Providers Give to Patients, Part 7
by Elizabeth E. Hogue, Esq. – Part 7 of the series on provider kickbacks summarizes a case from the OIG analyzing whether a free blood pressure screening falls under either of the laws preventing providers from incentivizing patients.
Subsidies Undecided
by Kristin Rowan, Editor – If Senate leaders cannot come together to solve the ACA subsidies issue before next week, insurance rates will skyrocket. If they can’t solve it by January 31st, the government may shut down…again.
CMS Proposed Changes
by Kristin Rowan, Editor – In the last 6 weeks, CMS has issued several proposals to reform policies in Traditional Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid. Optional participation forms are available and open comments are requested.
MedPAC Proposes Drastic Cut
by Kristin Rowan, Editor – After multiple years of rate adjustments, temporary cuts, and permanent cuts, home health reimbursement rates are low, but still supporting the negative margins of Medicare Advantage. Now, MedPAC wants to cut that margin to less than 0%.
What can Providers Give to Patients, Part 6
by Elizabeth E. Hogue, Esq. – In part 6 of the series on kickbacks, Hogue discusses inclusions and exceptions to the anti-kickback statutes when items and services promote access to care.
Feedback Adjusts Final Rule
From the National Alliance for Care at Home – Since 2019, Medicare home health providers have experienced severe cuts that have already led to a cascade of home health agency closures and reduced patient access to care, especially in rural and underserved communities. The cuts finalized by CMS today – 1.023% permanent and 3% temporary – will likely continue to exacerbate these trends.
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