Home-Based Care Outlook: 55% of Leaders Name Staffing as Top Challenge, Tech Investment on Rise

Home Health Care News / By Audrie Martin

Optimism is on the rise for 2025 as providers shift their focus toward strategic growth, and to leveraging technology investments to address persistent staffing challenges and enhance patient outcomes.

That’s according to the Home Health Care News Home-Based Care Outlook Survey for 2025. Findings from the survey, which was sponsored by Homecare Homebase, were recently released.

The survey results reflect the views of 103 professionals in the home-based care industry. Among these respondents, 75% occupy C-suite positions, including vice presidents and directors. Regarding the daily census, 39% of organizations report an average of 1 to 100 clients, while 24% serve between 101 and 500 clients; most of these organizations operate within a single state.

Staffing has emerged as the industry’s most significant challenge, with 30% of respondents indicating that their companies could achieve the greatest business efficiencies by addressing this area. On a positive note, staffing concerns have decreased by 4% compared to previous assessments.

Although worries about changing payment dynamics have increased, staffing technology is expected to yield the highest return on investment among technology expenditures.

Respondents were nearly evenly divided in their expectations regarding agency profit margins. The majority believe margins will remain stable in 2025 compared to the previous year. Additionally, half of the respondents reported that Medicare Advantage negatively impacts margins and will likely continue to do so…

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Grief and Bereavement Books for Kids and Teens

Evermore (List developed in collaboration with Dr.  Gaffney)

... How can a young person grasp the enormity, meaning, and consequences of an occurrence that brought death, injury, or harm into their life? ... Because books can be such a powerful balm during a time of grief, here’s our list of favorite books for kids and teens that explore the difficult experiences of death, grief, loss, and bereavement.

  • The Dead Bird by Margaret Wise Brown; Ages 4 and up
  • The Heart and The Bottle by Oliver Jeffers; Ages 4 and up
  • Listen by Holly McGhee; Ages 4-7
  • A Shelter for Sadness by Anne Booth; Ages 5 and up
  • Sweet Sweet Memory by Jacqueline Woodson and Floyd Cooper; Grades K-3
  • The Scar by Charlotte Moundic; Grades K-4
  • The Color of Absence: 12 Stories About Loss and Hope edited by James Howe; Grades 6-10
  • Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson; Ages 9 and up
  • Ab(solutely) Normal: Short Stories That Smash Mental Health Stereotypes edited by Nora Shalaway Carpenter & Rocky Callen; Teen & Young Adults

Click here for the full article with book descriptions, photos, and links
 

Direct Care Workforce Stabilization Board Recommendations with State Policymakers

Home Care and Hospice Association of Colorado advocates for employers as session commences.

The Colorado Legislature convened Wednesday, Jan. 8, and among topics it may consider this session are recommendations from the Direct Care Workforce Stabilization Board. The board, which held meetings and public hearings over the summer, is recommending increased worker wages and benefits; increased worker rights training requirements and notifications; creation of a direct care worker list and platform; increased enforcement of industry regulations; and additional investigations into racial and economic injustices and health care benefits within the industry. “This first round of recommendations tackled some big topics,” said Matt Hansen, deputy director of the Home Care and Hospice Association of Colorado (HHAC).

“Employers have a small voice on the board, but fortunately we were able to keep reimbursements a central part of the conversation where recommendations would require additional resources.”

Employers hold only four seats on the 15-member board, which was created by Senate. Bill 23-261 to recommend policy changes for direct care employment standards.

Remaining board members represented direct care workers, direct care consumers, and three state departments: The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, and the Colorado Department of Public Health.

The board is chaired by SEIU Local 105 President Stephanie Felix-Sowy. The board’s recommendations – which were drafted with input from the board but finalized by the chair – needed the affirmative vote of only eight board members to pass. The recommendations that met that threshold have been sent to lawmakers and the governor’s office for consideration…

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White House Rescinds Federal Funding Pause

Alliance Daily

On Monday evening, January 27, the Trump Administration’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued guidance pausing Federal Financial Assistance until an appointee could review whether the spending was in-line with Administration priorities. Due to the wording of the memorandum, specifically a footnote specifying that Medicare and Social Security would not be impacted, some media outlets and policymakers raised concerns that Medicaid payments would, in fact, be subject to the payment pause. However, it is important to note that Medicaid, just like Medicare and Social Security, is an entitlement and not discretionary grant funding. The mandatory nature of the funding should prevent it from being paused.

On January 29, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) rescinded its earlier memo that temporarily paused certain federal grants, loans, and financial assistance programs. The initial memo, issued earlier in the week, led to some confusion about its scope and impact. While OMB had clarified that entitlement programs like Medicare and Medicaid were not affected, uncertainties remained regarding which specific grants, loans, or programs would be subject to the freeze and how these determinations would be made.

See our Alliance Daily article for additional details about the pause. This funding pause was temporarily stayed by a federal court until at least February 3, pending further legal proceedings. The Alliance will continue to monitor for any further developments.

Despite the clarification that Medicaid is not subject to the funding freeze, several news outlets are reporting that State Medicaid Officials are unable to access the Medicaid “payment management system.” This could result in some delay in payments; however, it is likely that this is a short-term issue that is tied to the broader payment freeze and is likely to be resolved once the Administration is able to implement exceptions to the halt on disbursement. The Alliance will keep members informed as we learn more about the future of these funds.

The original OMB memo is available HERE.
 

CTA/BOI Reporting Remains Voluntary

 SESCO Management Consultants

  • The filing of Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) Reports that was required by the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) remains voluntary.
  • The US Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has noted: "On January 23, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court granted the government's motion to stay a nationwide injunction issued by a federal judge in Texas (Texas Top Cop Shop, Inc. v. McHenry). As a separate nationwide order issued by a different federal judge in Texas (Smith v. U.S. Department of the Treasury) still remains in place, employers are not currently required to file BOI reports with FinCEN despite the Supreme Court's action in Texas Top Cop Shop."
  • FinCEN has also stated that employers are not subject to liability if they fail to file BOI Reports with FinCEN while the Smith order remains in force.

If you are not a retainer client, contact us to learn about our services by calling 423-764-4127 or click here.
 
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