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

As CMS rolls out the 2026 updates to the Home Health CAHPS (HHCAHPS) survey, one message is clear: the redesigned survey places greater emphasis on patient-centered care, emotional connection, and family involvement. At the same time, the Home Health Value-Based Purchasing (HHVBP) model is narrowing its lens. In 2026, only two patient experience measures will directly impact performance: Overall rating of care Willingness to recommend Together, these measures now account fo