Home Health Agencies That Specialize In Post-Acute Care Have Lower Hospitalization & SNF Utilization Rates

Following a hospital discharge, traditional Medicare beneficiaries served by home health agencies that specialize in post-acute care had better outcomes during treatment and lower mortality rates during and after care. Home health agencies were categorized as specializing in post-acute care if they were at or above the 75th percentile for the share of post-acute episodes.

Those served by a home health agency specializing in post-acute care had hospitalization rates 2.1 percentage points lower than beneficiaries served by home health services that did not specialize in post-acute care. Their admissions to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs . . .