April 2008

Focus: Home and Community Based Services

The shift in federal and state funding toward home based care has prompted senior living providers to strategically evaluate whether home care has a ‘home’ within their organizations.

Consumer preference and funding trends toward home based care also make this service line seem attractive; however, careful evaluation and planning is a must before taking the plunge.

What types of Home Health Services are there to consider?

  • Home Health Agency: Provide skilled, intermittent services to patients recovering from inpatient stays, or acute exacerbations of chronic conditions. Patients require the services of a nurse or therapist as part of their care requirements. Typically, these agencies are licensed by the state, and certified to provide care to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, as well as insurance companies.
  • Home Care Agency: Typically provide non-skilled care to patients requiring services of a home health aide, companion, or homemaker services. Many states have licensure requirements, for example, Pennsylvania is moving forward with licensure requirements for home care companies.
  • Homemaker/Companion Services: Provide non-personal care and support consisting of housekeeping, transportation, and companion services. Licensure requirements will apply to these agencies.

So, where do you start?

  • First understand the regulatory requirements for your state. Some states have a certificate of need for start up of a skilled home health agency. For an existing provider, a market analysis of internal home health service utilization among residents is the starting point to measure demand for the services. The market analysis should also be conducted to evaluate opportunities to provide home health services external to the organization. These results will form the basis of your strategy for home and community based services.
  • A financial proforma is the next step. Once projected utilization volumes are determined, market data related to the typical pay and bill rates for the geographic area will be used to forecast a break-even analysis.
  • Next, the planning phase includes a well-developed business plan specific to the organization and is key to successful implementation.
  • Finally, assuming everything is favorable, proceed with implementation of the business plan and, ultimately, start up of operations.

Let Parente Randolph LLC assist you with evaluation of home based care potential in your market.

Events

Parente Randolph’s Senior Living Services specialists will be speaking at or attending the following upcoming conferences:

May 5-8

OHCA - Ohio Health Care Association
"Achieving Excellence Through Revenue Cycle Management"
Presented by Pamela Richmond

"Anatomy of a Meaningful Market Study"
Presented by Pamela Richmond and Allyson Preston
Columbus, OH
May 5-8

LIFESPAN
"Anatomy of a Meaningful Market Study"
Presented by Pamela Richmond, Allyson Preston and Alicia Titus

Ocean City, MD
May 14-16
PHA - PA Homecare Association
Harrisburg, PA
May 20-23
VANHA - Virginia Ass.of Nonprofit Homes for the Aging
Hot Springs, VA
May 28-30

PICPA - PA Institute of Certified Public Accountants
"Home Health Care Charges in Medicare Payments"
Presented by Mary Lou Roos

"Accounting and Auditing Update"
Presented by Mark Ross and Gene Korjeski
Hershey, PA
May 27-29
NJAHSA - NJ Association of Homes and Services for the Aging
Atlantic City, NJ
Jun 18-20
PANAC - PA Association of Nurse Assessment Coordinators
 
Jun 18-20

PANPHA
"Capital Resource Planning: Making Informed Property Decisions"
Presented by Jennifer Schwalm & Dan Tatum, Troy Tatum of Synergy Technical Services

"Mitigate Your Legal Liability through Sound Documentation Practices"
Presented by Candace McMullen & John Bass of Grogan Graffman, PC
Hershey, PA
Aug 3-6
PACAH/CCAP - County Commisioners Association of PA
"Understand Your Risks and Manage for Success"
Presented by Candace McMullen and Sophie Campbell
King of Prussia, PA
Sept 8-10
AOPHA - The Advocate of Not-for-Profit Services for Older Ohioans
Columbus, OH
Sept 10-12
NIC - National Invenstment Center
Chicago, IL
Sept 16-19
AANAC Fall - American Association of Nurse Assessment Coordinators
Philadelphia, PA
Sept 22-25
PHCA - PA Health Care Association
Champion, PA
Oct 5-8
AHCA - American Health Care Association
Nashville, TN
Oct 12-15
NAHC - Nat'l Association for Home Care & Hospice
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Oct 12-15
AAHSA - American Association of Homes & Services for the Aging
Philadelphia, PA

Contact:

Douglas Berry, Principal
dberry@parentenet.com
717.620.4772

Jennifer Schwalm, Principal
jschwalm@parentenet.com
717.620.4786

Parente Randolph's Senior Living Services Group provides the expertise you need to position your organization for the future. Our clientele includes providers and third-party professionals of Retirement Communities, CCRC's, Age-restricted Housing Providers, Assisted Living, Nursing, Home Health and Community Based Services.

 

www.parentenet.com/senior_living_consulting/

 

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