Latest news with #homehealth
Washington Post
4 days ago
- Health
- Washington Post
At-home health tests are here. But they aren't always the best option
The doctor is in — the mailbox, that is. You can now do self-administered tests for everything from thyroid function to HIV in the privacy of your own home — and that list continues to grow, as the Food and Drug Administration recently approved the first at-home cervical cancer test .
Forbes
29-05-2025
- General
- Forbes
Who Is Taking Care Of Our Elders?
Many families face the task of figuring out how to get help at home for their aging loved ones. Typically, we at giving advice to families, see the daughter or daughter-in-law taking the lead on the effort. As no one teaches us how to do this in school, it is sometimes a daunting task to figure out what all the 'non-medical'agencies and other sources of help actually offer by way of home care workers. The word 'nurse' is used by the public to suggest that that is the caregiver they're looking for. But skilled nursing is expensive, and for long term care at home, Medicare does not pay for skilled nursing. Only licensed home health agencies offer skilled nursing, generally together with physical therapy, occupational and speech therapy. Short term help with skilled care is sometimes offered after a family member had a stroke, for example, and is being discharged from a hospital or 'rehab' facility, also called a skilled nursing facility. Once the patient has reached what they call 'maximum rehab potential' with these skilled services at home, Medicare cuts off payment and services end. This care may last a few weeks only. What is 'non-medical' care at home? Care at home Individual providers and home care agencies, which do not provide any skilled nursing or skilled therapies may offer a variety of worker types. They may be classified as follows: 1. Certified Nursing Assistants. These folks are trained to work in skilled nursing facilities if they choose to do so. They know how to take blood pressure and other vital signs and work in a team. Different states have different qualifications, but usually the CNA has at least a few weeks of training to become certified. 2. Certified Home Health Aides. Like CNAs, HHAs have specific training to work in the home setting, and expect to do so. Certification of any kinds sets this worker a little apart from any uncertified worker, because the training is specific and standardized in the state. 3. Dementia-trained home care workers. Caring for individuals with dementia can present specific challenges. Behavior may be difficult. Aggressive verbal or physical outbursts, wandering, sleeping during the day and being awake all night are some examples. Training for workers to manage dementia-related issues is not standardized. Typically, if an agency holds itself out as offering dementia trained workers, it will charge a higher hourly rate for this. One seeking this kind of worker needs to ask a lot of questions about the qualification and training of any worker offered. 4. Home care workers, general. This is the most common kind of help people hire for an elder at home. They assist with things we call 'activities of daily living' (ADLs), which means walking, bathing, toileting, dressing, eating and getting from bed to chair and back. Some workers took care of an elder in their own families and that is their only training. Others have had in person or online courses in home care. And some have little to no formal training. If you need to keep costs down, this level worker tends to be less expensive on an hourly basis compared with those certified or specially trained, but it does have risks. 5. Companion care workers. These are folks who do not help with ADLs but offer socialization, transportation, and may do cooking and shopping and other tasks with or for the person in need. This level of care is also available through many home care, non-medical agencies. It is a way to prevent social isolation. It's company, conversation and someone to take your elder to enjoyable events. You have to know what to ask for if this lower level of need is what your elder requires. It typically costs less than someone who assists an elder with ADLs. In summary, it can be daunting to figure out what the elder can afford, what kind of worker will be best and where to find the right person to assist your loved one. However, by giving a clear description of what your elder needs to those who offer services, and by asking the right questions, you can find a match. Prevent Pitfalls in Hiring It is critical that you or your elder hire right. For guidance on avoiding mistakes, see my book, Hiring A Home Care Worker: What Could Possibly Go Wrong? It draws on my years of being an RN who visited people at home all day and in training and supervising home care workers myself. You want to be able to understand the risks of having an unknown person with an elder, probably unsupervised, for many hours. If you are considering getting help for a family member with dementia, be particularly cautious about protecting the vulnerable person from abuse.
Health Line
19-05-2025
- Health
- Health Line
What Is Medicare's PACE Program?
The PACE provides medical and social services for people with significant needs who want to continue living at home. It's a combined effort between Medicare and Medicaid. The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) offers support for people who wish to live at home but require a certain level of consistent medical care. Many of those enrolled in PACE are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, and these organizations work together to offer this program. PACE covers several services as long as you live within one of its service areas and meet specific criteria to qualify. Keep reading to discover what services are covered, how to qualify, and more. What is pace, and how does it work? PACE was created for people who need help managing their health but live in a private residence rather than a skilled nursing facility. You must have specific needs to qualify for the program, and most PACE participants are already dual eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare and Medicaid work together to offer PACE services, which are provided across the country by local care teams. The PACE team assesses the needs that can be met within your community. PACE is a public program that can help you get the medical and social support you need without a lot of extra costs and without leaving home. The program covers all the services available under Medicare, Medicaid, and more. A few examples of these services include: adult day care dental care help with meals and nutrition home care occupational and physical therapy prescription medications social services and social work counseling transportation A specialized team of professionals is brought together to provide the necessary services for your care. This team may include the following: dietitian driver home care liaison nurse occupational therapist PACE center supervisor personal caregiver physical therapist primary care physician recreational therapist social worker Services are mainly provided at adult day health centers participating in the PACE program. Those services are supplemented by in-home care and other referral services. These are based on your needs and as directed by the PACE healthcare team. When you need end-of-life care, the PACE program provides medical, prescription drug, and counseling services. The exception is if you elect to use hospice benefits. At that point, you're required to disenroll from the PACE program. You can choose to end your participation in the PACE program at any time for other reasons as well. Am I eligible for this program? Enrollment in the PACE program is voluntary. If you'd like to enroll, you must meet specific criteria to be eligible. You must: be age 55 or older live in a PACE service area be certified by your state (through Medicaid) as needing nursing home–level care be able to continue living in the community safely with the help of PACE services As long as you meet these criteria and want to enroll in the PACE program, you to be enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid. Plus, financial criteria are not considered when determining your eligibility for a PACE program. To enroll in a PACE program, however, you can't already be enrolled in any of the following: a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan a Medicare prepayment plan a Medicare prescription drug plan hospice services certain other programs How much does the PACE program cost? A monthly premium covers the long-term care portion of the PACE benefit. If you don't have Medicare or Medicaid, you'll be responsible for paying this premium. The premium amount will depend on the services you need and your PACE service area. If you don't qualify for Medicaid, you'll also pay a premium for your Medicare Part D medications. But you won't have to pay any deductibles or copayments for services your PACE care team provides. What are the income limits for PACE? In order to qualify for PACE without having to pay a premium, you need to qualify for Medicare or Medicaid. Medicare eligibility is determined by age or having certain disabilities. To qualify for Medicaid, you need to earn under certain income limits and below certain thresholds for assets. In 2025, 185 PACE programs operated in 33 states and the District of Columbia. Most states follow the federal Medicaid income limit of three times the SSI benefit level of $967 per individual monthly, or $2,901. The asset limit i $2,000 per person, and both incomes are higher if you are a couple. A number of states, however, have alternative limits. The following limits are based on available information and may change slightly depending on the state and the calendar year. PACE programs by state Monthly individual income limit Individual asset limit Arkansas $2,829 $2,000 California $1,732 none Delaware $2,417.5 $2,000 Illinois $1,304 $17,500 Louisiana $2,901 $2,000 Missouri $1,109 $5,909 Nebraska $2,609 $4,000 North Carolina $1,305 $2,000 North Dakota $1,174 $3,000 What are the pros and cons of the pace program? One advantage of PACE is its interdisciplinary healthcare team, which includes both professional and paraprofessional staff. A 2022 review of six studies compared PACE with other U.S. caregiving programs for older adults, focusing on economic, clinical, and functional outcomes. Some studies demonstrated better results for PACE participants, such as fewer and shorter hospital stays. However, among the potential disadvantages of the PACE program, the study also found higher nursing home use among PACE enrollees. In addition, clinical outcomes and survival rates varied. Some studies indicated longer survival for PACE participants, while others showed higher mortality. The review, therefore, highlighted limited research and a lack of thorough bias assessments, emphasizing the need for more comprehensive studies on the effectiveness of the PACE program. How do I enroll? To enroll in a PACE program, you must meet the criteria mentioned above and any other requirements from your local program. If you decide to enroll, you must agree to provide medical and other personal information that'll allow your care team to assess your needs and determine which services are required. Once you sign an enrollment agreement for a PACE program, you'll receive additional information on what the program covers, how to get services, and plans for emergency care. When enrolled in PACE, you don't need to reenroll annually as long as you meet the program's criteria. You can disenroll from the PACE program at any time. It's possible to be dropped from the program as well. Some of the reasons you may be dropped include: not paying your PACE premiums engaging in disruptive, dangerous, or threatening behaviors that could harm yourself or a caregiver moving outside of a PACE service area the state no longer contracts your PACE provider to provide care under the program you are no longer eligible for services, as determined by the state Takeaway PACE is a program for people who need extra medical services in their home or community. You'll need to meet specific criteria to qualify, continue to prove these needs, and follow any rules set by your local program. If you qualify for Medicare or Medicaid, these agencies will help pay for the cost of PACE services. You can enroll or disenroll from PACE at any time, regardless of Medicare enrollment periods.-=[';
Associated Press
08-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Viventium Unveils Enhanced Per Visit Pay Solution to Empower Home Health Agencies
BERKELEY HEIGHTS, N.J., May 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Viventium, who offers an industry-leading payroll, HR, and compliance platform purpose-built for healthcare providers, today announced Per Visit Pay enhancements to Viventium Payroll. Designed specifically to meet the growing needs of home health agencies, these enhancements streamline payroll processing and safeguard agencies against frequent errors that can result in costly penalties. As home health agencies adapt to shifting regulations, tight margins, and workforce expectations, Viventium Payroll with Per Visit Pay provides a smarter way for agencies to pay clinicians for skilled nursing and therapy visits. By aligning compensation with visit type while ensuring full compliance with Fair Labor Standards Act and Affordable Care Act requirements, the enhanced offering allows agencies to scale, optimize labor costs, and improve care delivery. 'Home health organizations are being asked to do more with less while continuing to deliver exceptional care,' said Navin Gupta, CEO at Viventium. 'Viventium Payroll is purpose-built for home health agencies. Our mission is to deliver industry-specific functionality that empowers agencies to stay compliant, support clinicians, and gain financial control — all in one powerful platform.' Unlike legacy payroll systems that convert visits into hours using a fixed multiplier, Viventium Payroll captures both the actual hours worked and the number of visits completed. This dual-tracking approach ensures accurate calculation of overtime, retroactive pay, ACA eligibility, sick leave accruals, and more. By automating every step of the payroll process, Viventium Payroll helps eliminate errors, prevent under- or overpayment, and ensure full compliance, streamlining the entire payroll process from start to finish. Key benefits for home health agencies include: This release comes at a crucial time. Despite rising costs, home health agencies only saw a modest 0.5% Medicare rate increase in 2025, a rate well below inflation. With expectations that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will further adjust payments under the Patient-Driven Groupings Model, agencies must maximize efficiency and quality to stay competitive. 'With rising cost pressures and increasingly complex compliance demands, it's more important than ever for home health agencies to have a payroll partner that truly understands their unique needs. At Viventium, we designed our enhanced Per Visit Pay solution to deliver the precision, adaptability, and visibility agencies need to support their clinicians and protect their margins with confidence,' said Terra Vicario, Chief Client Officer, Viventium. To learn more about Viventium Payroll and Per Visit Pay, visit About Viventium Viventium is healthcare's trusted ally for payroll, HR, and compliance, combining innovative solutions with deep expertise in the healthcare industry. Its purpose-built cloud-based platform is designed to tackle the complexity and compliance challenges healthcare providers face, simplifying the workday, every day. Viventium helps organizations hire and retain care staff, improve the employee experience, and drive measurable value. Serving clients in all fifty states and supporting over 500,000 healthcare employees, Viventium enables organizations to focus on what matters most: providing compassionate care. It's a new day, with Viventium. For more information, visit Media Contact: Amanda Evans Director of Marketing, Home-Based Care [email protected] 718.766.0360
