Home Health Integration for the Future

The Balanced Budget Act of 1997, coupled with the effects of the Prospective Payment System implemented in October 2000, has created a situation that seriously compromises the financial viability of existing home health agencies. To survive the maelstrom, agencies must act rapidly to stem the financial hemorrhage and prevent closure. Attention to patient volumes, allowable reimbursement, timely submission of requests for payment, and education across the continuum will provide the best opportunity for survival in the short term. Regionalizing services available through home care will provide the best cost structure with which to spread traditional costs of doing business. Swift action to accomplish these goals today will promote stability across the home care agency arena.