Market Intelligence

As mentioned in a previous post (Service & Spending Variation Index (SSVI): A New Window on Hospice Performance), the Hospice SSVI identifies hospices whose care patterns and non-hospice Medicare spending differ from national norms. Why Ohio Hospice Agencies Should Take a Closer Look Close to half of Ohio Hospice agencies have a Total SSVI score of 8 or more with scores across the state ranging from 1 to 12. Overall, Ohio Hospice skew slightly higher than national norms on t

Recently, Berg Data Corner highlighted how timely Home Health access is a key driver of both care utilization and total cost—and how Washington State is falling behind. In 2024, only 38.8% of Washington patients were admitted to Home Health within two days of hospital discharge, compared to 68.4% nationally, making Washington one of the slowest states in the country. Why Speed Matters In article Part 1- Why Speed Matters, we describe how speed of admission impacts whether pat

In Part 1 of this series, we explored how timely Home Health admissions increase overall access and utilization. The same delays that limit access also carry a significant—and avoidable—financial cost for hospitals and the healthcare system as a whole. Delayed Home Health Means Longer Hospital Stays When Home Health services are not available promptly, hospitals are often forced to keep patients longer than clinically necessary while awaiting a safe discharge plan. Across Was

Timely access to Home Health following hospital discharge is a critical determinant of whether patients receive Home Health services at all. Medicare FFS claims data show that Washington State significantly underperforms the nation in speed of Home Health admissions. In 2024, only 38.8% of Washington Medicare FFS patients were admitted to Home Health within two days of hospital discharge, compared to a national average of 68.4%, making Washington the 4th slowest state in the

Ohio’s Home Health providers play a critical role in access and keeping patients healthy. Statewide data reveals a gap in Home Health access for Ohio residents when compared to key benchmarks. Overall, Ohio Home Health admissions average 70 per 1,000 Medicare FFS beneficiaries, far below the national average of 81 per 1,000. Access to Home Health is not consistent across the state, with Home Health use rates ranging from a high of 101 admissions per 1,000 in Montogomery Count

When it comes to keeping patients healthy at home, Washington’s Home Health providers play a critical role in access. Statewide data reveal a sizable gap between actual and expected Home Health access based on patient case mix. Across Washington State, Home Health admissions average just 48.6 per 1,000 Medicare FFS beneficiaries, far below the national average of 81 per 1,000. This means thousands of Washington seniors and medically complex patients miss the opportunity to re