“How Medicare Advantage Changed Home Health Care Use,” by Miles Meline, PennLDI
“Home health care is a central part of supporting older adults outside institutional settings such as hospitals and nursing homes. Home health can be provided for post-acute care after a hospital stay or initiated in the community to help manage chronic conditions or address short-term skilled needs. Home health agencies (HHAs) provide the care covered under traditional Medicare (TM) and MA plans. A new study by LDI Executive Director Rachel M. Werner and colleagues found shifting patterns of home health care use over the past decade: Home health use was higher among traditional Medicare enrollees but fell for both community-initiated and post-discharge needs. At the same time, the use of home health is growing among Medicare Advantage enrollees—particularly in the community—but is typically shorter in duration of care compared to those on TM.”
LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform:
While scholars sort out the relationships between Medicare Advantage, Traditional Medicare, and the use of home and community-based care, private LTC insurance leans heavily toward home care. “Over half (51.5 percent) of LTCi claims begin as payment for home care services with the other half almost evenly split between assisted living (24.5 percent) and nursing care (23 percent).”