When Will it Stop? Addressing the Rising Challenges of Home Health

The home health industry continues to grapple with a range of challenges, from escalating regulations to stagnant reimbursement rates. As agencies strive to navigate these obstacles, the question remains: When will the situation improve? When will it stop?

Here is my take on the Invisible Truth of these challenges.

Staffing Costs and Reimbursement Rates

One of the primary challenges facing home health agencies is the rising cost of staffing. With the demand for home health aides and nurses at an all-time high, agencies find themselves in fierce competition for qualified professionals. This has led to an increase in wages, putting significant pressure on agencies' financial resources. However, despite these increased costs, reimbursement rates from payers like Medicare and Medicaid have remained relatively stagnant, leaving agencies in a precarious financial position.

Regulatory Burdens

Adding to the financial strain are regulations such as Electronic Visit Verification (EVV). Check out my most recent conversation on how to handle EVV on our Youtube channel: https://youtu.be/3h5H0ZVcYB0?si=fcZ1DrXupdTfp5ou.

While EVV is intended to improve accountability and prevent fraud, the implementation costs can be prohibitive for many agencies. Compliance with EVV requirements is mandatory in most states, and agencies that fail to meet them face substantial penalties. As a result, agencies are forced to divert resources away from patient care to ensure compliance with these regulations.

Strategies for Addressing the Challenges

To address these challenges, home health agencies can employ several strategies:

Engage with State Associations

State associations play a crucial role in advocating for the interests of home health agencies at the state level. By joining forces with other agencies and stakeholders, agencies can amplify their voices and push for meaningful changes in areas such as reimbursement rates and regulatory burdens.

Outsource Coding and Revenue Cycle Management

Entrusting coding and revenue cycle management (RCM) tasks to experts in the field can help agencies ensure accuracy and efficiency in their billing processes. This can ultimately maximize revenue and free up resources to focus on patient care.

Invest in Technology

Embracing technology can help agencies streamline operations and reduce costs. Electronic health record (EHR) systems can improve documentation accuracy and efficiency, while telehealth platforms can expand access to care and reduce the need for in-person visits. By leveraging technology, agencies can increase efficiency, improve patient outcomes, and reduce costs.

Want to talk to someone? I welcome the opportunity to talk with you. We may or may not be a good fit for your agency, but that doesn't mean we can't learn from each other. In addition, we have many ecosystem partnership who are experts at various pieces of the health care puzzle that I would love to introduce you to. Together, we can make the industry better and ensure top notch patient care.

Conclusion

The challenges facing the home health industry are significant, without an end in sight. BUT, with some strategy and support, they are not insurmountable. By actively engaging with state associations, outsourcing coding and RCM, and investing in technology, agencies can navigate the complexities of home health and position themselves for success in the future. With perseverance and innovation, the industry can overcome these challenges and continue to provide quality care to those who need it most.