Latest news with #homehealthcare
CBS News
a day ago
- Business
- CBS News
Northern California business owner in Fairfield accused of not paying $2 million in taxes
A business owner in Solano County is facing multiple federal charges for allegedly not paying more than $2 million in trust fund taxes, instead spending the money on luxury items, prosecutors said. Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith of the Eastern District of California announced on May 28 that a 41-count indictment was returned against 54-year-old Warren Soto Delfin of Fairfield. Delfin was the owner of five home health care businesses. Delfin's businesses accumulated more than $2 million in employment taxes between January 2018 and December 2022, prosecutors said. The taxes stem from amounts Delfin withheld from employee paychecks. Instead of paying the withholdings to the Internal Revenue Service, prosecutors said he used the money on himself. Delfin allegedly spent the money on a Lamborghini, jewelry and real estate. Delfin was charged following an investigation by IRS Criminal Investigation and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. If convicted, Delfin faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each charged count.
CBS News
a day ago
- Business
- CBS News
Northern California business owner in Fairfield accused of not paying $2M in taxes
A business owner in Solano County is facing multiple federal charges for allegedly not paying more than $2 million in trust fund taxes, instead spending the money on luxury items, prosecutors said. Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith of the Eastern District of California announced on May 28 that a 41-count indictment was returned against 54-year-old Warren Soto Delfin of Fairfield. Delfin was the owner of five home health care businesses. Delfin's businesses accumulated more than $2 million in employment taxes between January 2018 and December 2022, prosecutors said. The taxes stem from amounts Delfin withheld from employee paychecks. Instead of paying the withholdings to the Internal Revenue Service, prosecutors said he used the money on himself. Delfin allegedly spent the money on a Lamborghini, jewelry and real estate. Delfin was charged following an investigation by IRS Criminal Investigation and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. If convicted, Delfin faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each charged count.
Medscape
a day ago
- Business
- Medscape
Home Healthcare Common for People With Dementia
The use of home healthcare services is common among people with dementia, especially for community-initiated care, a new analysis of Medicare data showed. Between 2010 and 2019, use of community-initiated home healthcare increased by 17%, while use of home healthcare for postacute care rose by 21%. Use decreased after 2020, which investigators said could be linked to staffing shortages in the home healthcare industry. METHODOLOGY: Researchers conducted a cross-sectional analysis, including over 13 million older adults (mean age, 79.4 years; 60% women; 86% White individuals) who were enrolled for traditional Medicare and received home healthcare between 2010 and 2022. The frequency and duration of home healthcare spells were analyzed and compared between individuals with dementia (28%) and those without dementia (72%). Postacute care was defined as home healthcare instituted within 14 days of discharge from a hospital, nursing home, or other facility. All other home healthcare use was classified as community-initiated. TAKEAWAY: Between 2010 and 2022, there were 30,998,653 home healthcare spells (mean, 2.2 home health spells per beneficiary). Individuals with dementia used community-initiated home healthcare more frequently than postacute care (54% vs 46%). Among individuals with dementia, the number of community-initiated care spells increased from 35.4 to 40.2 per 1000 beneficiaries and that of postacute care spells increased from 28.9 to 35.1 per 1000 beneficiaries (2010-2019) and then fell to 33.6 and 28.5 per 1000 beneficiaries by mid-2022, respectively. Between 2010 and 2019, the number of community-initiated care spells among individuals without dementia decreased by 20%, while postacute care spells decreased by 21% in this population. Home healthcare spells were consistently longer for individuals with dementia than those without it (47-52 days vs 44-50 days for community-initiated care and 40-43 days vs 32-34 days for postacute care). IN PRACTICE: 'Despite increasing use of home health care during this time period, people may receive incomplete support for their home healthcare needs through Medicare, which is centered on needs for skilled care, or Medicaid, which entails strict asset and income tests. Decreasing rates of home healthcare use since 2020 in this high-need population point to a need for ongoing monitoring of service use and outcomes for people with dementia,' the investigators wrote. SOURCE: The study was led by Rachel M. Werner, MD, PhD, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. It was published online on May 16 in JAMA Network Open . LIMITATIONS: The study relied on claims data for dementia diagnosis. The COVID-19 pandemic may have disrupted healthcare utilization, potentially leading to underdiagnosis of dementia toward the study's end. Additionally, the study only included traditional Medicare beneficiaries as those enrolled in Medicare Advantage typically use home healthcare at lower rates and for shorter periods, which may have influenced the observed trends. DISCLOSURES: The study was funded by the National Institute of Aging. One author reported receiving personal fees from City Block Health and Trinity Health outside the submitted work.
Forbes
6 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
How Wisp Built The Most Complete Women's Health Platform In America
Wisp STI Test As clinic access shrinks and provider shortages rise, Wisp—the largest pure-play women's telehealth platform in the U.S., available in all 50 states—is betting big on home as the new front line of healthcare. Today, the company launched a diagnostics vertical designed to bring testing and follow-up care for common STIs directly to patients' doors. With more than 1.5 million users nationwide, Wisp has quietly become a category-defining force in virtual women's health. Its new At-Home Testing & Follow-Up Care service allows patients to collect samples discreetly at home, mail them to CLIA/CAP-accredited labs, and receive results within 3–5 business days—no clinic visit required. All tests include free consultations and, if needed, asynchronous treatment within the Wisp platform. 'We're simplifying the path to complete, 360-degree care, making it possible for patients to access testing and treatment from the comfort of home,' said Monica Cepak, CEO of Wisp. Wisp's diagnostics offering debuts with three test panels: a Common STI Panel (Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Trichomoniasis), a 3-Site Panel (multi-site Chlamydia and Gonorrhea), and an M-Gen Panel (Mycoplasma Genitalium). All tests are processed through CLIA/CAP-accredited labs using non-invasive swab and urine samples. According to Wisp, 62% of surveyed patients expressed interest in at-home STI testing. The platform's STI, STD, and Herpes categories are up 40% year-over-year. 'We're not just improving convenience—we're helping to destigmatize sexual health and empower patients to take control of their care with confidence,' said Dr. Jillian LoPiano, MD, MPH, FACOG. Wisp is actively building an interconnected care ecosystem through strategic partnerships: In March 2025, Wisp launched a comprehensive weight care vertical that includes access to GLP-1 medications for women navigating hormonal imbalances, PCOS, and perimenopause. The offering consists of prescription access, metabolic panels, and support tools to monitor nutritional deficiencies and long-term weight maintenance. The move positioned Wisp as one of the few platforms approaching GLP-1s from a women's hormonal health lens, not just weight loss. Wisp also recently launched a first-of-its-kind Male BV Partner Treatment, addressing a longstanding clinical blind spot. The new product provides prescriptions for male partners to prevent reinfection and reduce recurrence rates of BV in female patients. 'This move is about science, empathy, and eliminating recurring frustration for our patients,' said Dr. LoPiano. In a recent interview with Femtech Insider, Cepak shared how Wisp's lean growth strategy was fueled by SEO and trust, not splashy fundraising. Over 60% of new patients find Wisp through organic search, and the company has remained profitable since before its 2021 acquisition by WELL Health Technologies (Forbes). 'We focused on listening to our customers and solving real problems, faster and more affordably than anyone else,' said Cepak. Wisp Diagnostics STI Essential 3Panel Wisp is one of the only DTC platforms offering a fully virtual stack—from diagnostics and treatment to Rx delivery and hormonal health—available in all 50 states. As Wisp pushes beyond birth control into diagnostics, weight care, and asynchronous treatment, its competitive set reveals a fragmented market—one where most players specialize in narrow verticals, not comprehensive care. Here's how the landscape stacks up: Wisp is among a new wave of digital health companies redefining reproductive health branding. In the wake of Roe v. Wade's overturning, the company has embraced direct, unapologetic messaging around sexual health and bodily autonomy. As reported by The Guardian, Wisp deliberately avoids euphemisms and medical gatekeeping in favor of plainspoken, rights-based language. This strategy is on full display in its award-winning campaign, 'We Heart Healthy Vaginas.' Created by agency Oberland, the Valentine's Day-themed campaign used playful packaging, reclaimed language, and merch like 'pH-balanced' candy hearts to promote awareness of Wisp's vaginal health offerings. The campaign reached over 30 million impressions and boosted first-time patients. 'We don't want our users to feel like they're entering a hospital portal. We want them to feel seen,' said Cepak. 'Our brand is a promise—not just a product.' Wisp STI Kit Founded in 2018 by Matthew Swartz, Wisp scaled without raising traditional VC capital. In 2021, it was acquired by WELL Health Technologies, a Canadian public company focused on digital health platforms. Though WELL is based in Canada, Wisp serves patients exclusively in the U.S. across all 50 states, with over 1.5 million users and growing. 'Wisp's expansion into diagnostics is a move that reflects our shared vision of building a fully integrated, patient-first healthcare experience. By bringing lab-grade testing into the home and pairing it with accessible virtual care, Wisp is not only enhancing convenience and affordability, but it's redefining what 360-degree care looks like for women.' — Hamed Shahbazi, Founder, Chairman and CEO of WELL Health Technologies 'This launch underscores our founding mission: to put more power, privacy, and choice in the hands of patients,' said Cepak. As telehealth evolves from transactional visits to full-stack care, Wisp is laying the foundation for an always-on, lifestyle-centric women's health platform. Diagnostics is just the latest step. From birth control and STI testing to fertility, weight care, and hormonal health, Wisp is building what may become the most complete digital front door for women's health. Read more on how GLP-1 telehealth models are evolving in this Forbes feature.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Health clinics that service immigrants are making house calls on patients too afraid to leave home
Across Los Angeles, the Inland Empire and the Coachella Valley, one community health center is extending its services to immigrant patients in their homes after realizing that people were skipping critical medical appointments because they've become too afraid to venture out. St. John's Community Health, one of the largest nonprofit community healthcare providers in Los Angeles County that caters to low-income and working-class residents, launched a home visitation program in March after learning that patients were missing routine and urgent care appointments because they feared being taken in by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. St. John's, which offers services through a network of clinics and mobile units across the region, estimates that at least 25,000 of its patients are undocumented, and about a third of them suffer from chronic conditions, including diabetes and hypertension, which require routine checkups. But these patients were missing tests to monitor their blood sugar and blood pressure, as well as appointments to pick up prescription refills. Earlier this year, the health center began surveying patients and found that hundreds were canceling appointments 'solely due to fear of being apprehended by ICE.' President Trump came into his second term promising the largest deportation effort in U.S. history, initially focusing his rhetoric on undocumented immigrants who had committed violent crimes. But shortly after he took office, his administration said they considered anyone in the country without authorization to be a criminal. In the months since, the new administration has used a variety of tactics to sow fear in immigrant communities. The Department of Homeland Security has launched an ad campaign urging people in the country without authorization to leave or risk being rounded up and deported. Immigration agents are showing up at Home Depots and inside courtrooms, in search of people in the U.S. without authorization. Increasingly, immigrants who are detained are being whisked away and deported to their home countries — or, in some cases, nations where they have no ties — without time for packing or family goodbyes. The Trump administration in January rescinded a policy that once shielded sensitive locations such as hospitals, churches and schools from immigration-related arrests. Read more: Kern County immigration raid offers glimpse into new reality for California farmworkers In response to the survey results, St. John's launched the Health Care Without Fear program in an effort to reach patients who are afraid to leave their homes. Jim Mangia, chief executive and president of St. John's, said in a statement that healthcare providers should implement policies to ensure all patients, regardless of immigration status, have access to care. 'Healthcare is a human right — we will not allow fear to stand in the way of that,' he said. Bukola Olusanya, a nurse practitioner and the regional medical director at St. John's, said one woman reported not having left her home in three months. She said she knows of other patients with chronic conditions who aren't leaving their house to exercise, which could exacerbate their illness. Even some immigrants in the U.S. legally are expressing reservations, given news stories about the government accusing people of crimes and deporting them without due process. Olusanya said waiting for people to come back in for medical care on their own felt like too great a risk, given how quickly their conditions could deteriorate. 'It could be a complication that's going to make them get a disability that's going to last a lifetime, and they become so much more dependent, or they have to use more resources," she said. "So why not prevent that?' Read more: More immigrants opt to self-deport rather than risk being marched out like criminals On a recent Thursday at St. John's Avalon Clinic in South L.A., Olusanya prepared to head to the home of a patient who lived about 30 minutes away. The Avalon Clinic serves a large population of homeless patients and has a street team that frequently uses a van filled with medical equipment. The van is proving useful for home visits. Olusanya spent about 30 minutes preparing for the 3 p.m. appointment, assembling equipment to draw blood, collect a urine sample and check the patient's vitals and glucose levels. She said she has conducted physical exams in bedrooms and living rooms, depending on the patient's housing situation and privacy. She recalled a similar drop in patient visits during Trump's first administration when he also vowed mass deportations. Back then, she said, the staff at St. John's held drills to prepare for potential federal raids, linking arms in a human chain to block the clinic entrance. But this time around, she said, the fear is more palpable. 'You feel it; it's very thick,' she said. While telehealth is an option for some patients, many need in-person care. St. John's sends a team of three or four staff members to make the house calls, she said, and are generally welcomed with a mix of relief and gratitude that makes it worthwhile. 'They're very happy like, 'Oh, my God, St. John's can do this. I'm so grateful,' ' she said. 'So it means a lot.' Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
