Home Care Industry News

In July, on the 25th, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced that it would be cutting $1.3 billion for home health agencies by Fiscal Year 2019. At that time, Kindred Healthcare’s stock share price was at $11.20, but the next day is dropped by 15 percent. On August 3rd, it was down to $8.45, which is a 24.5 percent drop.

When people approach retirement age, they often think more closely about every detail. They want to be sure their investments are working out, that they’ll have enough money in savings to survive during their Golden Years, and they want to be sure they will have everything they need to live comfortably and safely.

Millions of Baby Boomers are reaching retirement age and that means more men and women are going to be requiring support during their retirement years. Increasing numbers of aging men and women prefer to ‘age in place,’ which essentially means they want to stay in their homes, even if they might require some type of long-term care.

There are stories all across the country how people have one career or life path in mind, and even begin pursuing it, but then a personal experience changes their perspective. That’s the case with many home care agency owners, including Brandi Warden.

Fraud cases regarding Medicaid reimbursement for in home care services can take on many forms. While a significant portion of the media coverage of these fraud cases involve millions in stolen funds, not all are as massive, but they are just as damaging to the industry as a whole.

According to Forbes and AARP, there are an estimated 44 million family caregivers in the United States right now. That number will likely increase as more seniors reach retirement age and prefer to remain at home, even if they have trouble with mobility or various health issues. Home care support is a major component in keeping these men and women safe, healthy, and active, but for so many of these family members, they rarely think about the consequences (or repercussions) of their efforts.

In a case that has some calling it disturbing, a 70 year old male home care provider was arrested recently and is facing charges that he sexually abused a 21 year old disabled client. Anthony Raniello was arrested and is currently being held  in lieu of $105,000 bond or $52,500 cash.

Now that the Republican effort the repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act seems stalled, it’s time for legislators to regroup and plan their next strategy. Democrats have been vocal about opposition to any such efforts, claiming it is only going to hurt the sick, poor, and elderly. One such claim that various news agencies have been touting recently is the risk of further Medicaid cuts to in home care services.

At this point in time, it’s not much surprise to those within the home care industry that a shortage is looming. The Baby Boomer generation is now retiring and that means the percentage of the U.S. population considered ‘elderly’ will be growing. By 2050, the number of seniors in the country will be doubled what it is now, and if home care support is not available to those who need it, something will have to give.