Home health care services are undergoing rapid growth as the population steadily ages. As the industry changes, so do the services offered. The following are five ways home health care services are expected to change in 2017.
Increased Cost New rules and regulations are being implemented, and it is predicted that the cost is going to increase noticeably during 2017. The increase is expected to be across most of the services offered by medical professionals. However, the rise in numbers of homecare providers may lead to competitive pricing which mean better prices for users.
More Services Offered With a rapidly aging population, the number of services offered is expected to rise. This gives patients the ability to recover from home instead of in a less comfortable facility. Many of the newer home health services will be included for long term illnesses.
Additional Education for Providers Providers are going through more rigorous reviews to ensure they meet the new requirements. Their work will be done with more transparency, so that those who are in need of services can more easily identify the right provider for their needs.
Purchases That Are Value Based Rates will be offered based on the estimated value of different services. While this policy is limited to a few states, it is expected to expand in the coming years. As the system grows, companies will begin to compete for higher ratings to reach better payment brackets.
Medicare to Require Prior Authorization With the aging population comes an increased demand. To ensure that the necessary funds are available to pay for the number of people requiring services, prior authorization is expected to be implemented for those on Medicare. This change is not guaranteed to happen, but you should be aware that you may need to take time to have your home health services approved before you seek a provider.
