As mentioned in another post, Service & Spending Variation Index (SSVI): A New Window on Hospice Performance, SSVI is a new hospice claims-based measure intended to identify hospice agencies whose care utilization patterns and non-hospice Medicare spending differ from national norms. Your data is already out there and available, and can be found here: We Make It Easy and Give you Meaningful Context Berg Data Solutions makes understanding your performance easy. We'll break do

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

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

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

CMS has introduced a new way to evaluate hospice providers by analyzing claims data for patterns that may suggest unusual utilization or Medicare spending. The Hospice Service & Spending Variation Index (SSVI) identifies hospices whose care patterns and non-hospice Medicare spending differ from national norms. While SSVI is not a payment program or quality rating, it reflects CMS's growing emphasis on program integrity, consistency, and responsible stewardship of Medicare res

Home Care Association of Washington exploring utilization trends and quality improvement opportunities for residents. Check out their 2018 Annual Conference Materials here.

Oregon Hospice Association exploring opportunities to improve hospice access and patient experience. Presentation materials from their 2018 Annual Conference.