Other highlights of the week include a Harvard pilot study that utilized a checklist for caregivers, enabling them to track changes in patients’ conditions and potentially monitor and reduce the likelihood of a future hospitalization. Home care also had a small win in an overtime case in New York. Here in the newsroom, we keep our readers informed on how the industry is advocating against home health copayment proposals.
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Harvard Pilot Proves Value of In-Home Care Checklist—A quick intervention tool that aims to reduce hospital readmissions among home care patients has found some initial success in a recent pilot study approved by Harvard Medical School. The six-month study found that caregivers who utilize a short checklist about their patients’ conditions were able to report a number of changes that could result in more serious care interventions if left untreated.
Copayment Woes Drive Agenda for Home Care Advocates—Another potential new regulation is in the future for home health care: copayments. The copays, which were eliminated from Medicare several decades ago, have been reintroduced into the health care reform dialogue and could make a full comeback if budget proposals are approved. That is, unless home care advocates can shift the momentum in Washington.