ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 20, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The final report from the Alliance for Home Health Quality and Innovation (AHHQI)'s Future of Home Health Project was published on-line this month in the peer-reviewed journal Home Health Care Management and Practice. The article, "The Future of Home Health Care: A Strategic Framework for Optimizing Value," outlines a vision for the role and relevance of home health and home-based care and recommends a framework for the Medicare-certified home health agency of the future. Critical to the strategic framework for the future are three key roles that the home health agency of the future will play. The authors state that home health agencies will play critical roles in: (1) providing post-acute care and acute care at home; (2) partnering with primary care; (3) partnering with home and community-based long-term care programs. In these roles, home health agencies will provide time-limited rapid escalation of skilled nursing, therapy and other support to enable patients to avoid hospitalization and to be integrated into community life. "By designing a strategic framework for the future of home health care delivery, we hope to enhance the ability of home health agencies to provide high quality care to ensure patients improve or remain as healthy as possible," said Steven Landers, MD, President and CEO of VNA Health Group and Vice-Chairman of the Alliance Board of Directors. "The report provides direction on how new and alternative models should be structured to ensure home health agencies can participate in, and add value to, new payment structures designed to decrease spending by reducing hospitalizations and keeping patients healthy at home." The report is highlighted by three key recommendations to help enable future home health agencies to recognize their full potential: Qualitative research, a literature review, case studies, and the themes collected at the 2014 Institute of Medicine and National Research Council workshop, "The Future of Home Health Care," were all utilized in completing the analysis, which discusses the current challenges the home health care industry faces, and lays out a framework for stakeholders to adapt to this changing environment. Specifically, the report describes the current home health care landscape, the status of proposed reforms, and where the industry is headed. The report also offers recommendations for Medicare officials to improve the way home health care is delivered to better serve a rapidly growing patient population. As the American population ages, living longer with more acute and chronic conditions, the role of home health providers is expected to grow and change significantly. Policymakers will need to address these challenges so that home health agencies can fulfill their critical roles under Medicare's Triple Aim goals, which seek to improve patient experience of care, increase the health of populations, and reduce the per capita cost of health care. The shift toward value-based health care provides new opportunities for home health agencies to adapt to alternative payment models and to pursue more care coordination and risk-sharing. "As we move into the future of home health care, it is critical that Medicare and home health care evolve alongside each other to actively promote risk-sharing and better manage patient care," said Teresa Lee, Executive Director of the Alliance. "In the long-term, we expect to see home health agencies expand their role under alternative payment models and serve as key coordinators of care." In order to adapt to this critical role, future home health agencies will need to have newly strengthened capabilities. The FOHH report outlines four pillars that describe what a home health agency of the future would be expected to look like. Future home health agencies must: "This framework reflects the enormous potential home health agencies have to be the primary driver of quality, patient-centered care," added Lee. "The home health agency of the future will be a leader in care coordination and play a critical role in patient health that goes far beyond post-acute care management. They have the opportunity to be a key partner in improving patient health, breaking down barriers to access, and lowering costs for everyone." To read the full article, "The Future of Home Health Care: A Strategic Framework for Optimizing Value," published in Home Health Care Management and Practice, click here. The Future of Home Health Project is a multi-year, research-based strategic planning project on the future of home health care in America. To learn more, visit ahhqi.org/home-health/future-project. The Alliance for Home Health Quality and Innovation (the Alliance) is comprised of leaders in the home health care community – including several of the largest home health care providers in the United States and the largest national trade association representing home health care providers. The mission of the Alliance is to foster research and education on the value of home health care to patients and the overall U.S. health care system. The Alliance is dedicated to improving the nation's health care system through development of high quality and innovative solutions aimed at achieving optimal clinical outcomes. To learn more, visit www.ahhqi.org. Contact: Emily Adler 703-548-0019 SOURCE Alliance for Home Health Quality and Innovation http://www.ahhqi.org
The Alliance for Home Health Quality and Innovation ’s Future of Home Health Report has released its final report , noting that home health agencies will play three key roles in the strategic framework of healthcare . Home health agencies will provide post - acute care and acute care in the home ; will partner with primary care ; and will partner with community based long - term care programs . Designing a strategic home healthcare delivery system will aid the ability of home health agencies to ensure that patients improve or maintain stability , the report ’s authors said . The report recommends three strategies for enabling home health agencies to reach their full potential : reducing regulatory obstacles to risk sharing , thus empowering home health agencies to participate fully in care coordination ; allowing further flexibility for delivery home health care through alternative payment models , including regulatory waivers to encourage cost - effective practices ; and eliminating home health care fraud by identifying common patters in aberrant claims , cutting down on program waste . Home health care of the future will aim to provide patient - centred , responsive services that are coordinated and technology enabled , as well as being of high quality .