Home health programs grow in popularity

Home health referrals increased significantly compared with skilled nursing facilities between 2019 and 2022, according to a WellSky report on post-acute care. In 2021, more than 85% of adults preferred to receive “post-hospital, short-term health care” at home, while 5% of patients preferred a nursing home. In addition, hospital-at-home programs are gaining popularity. They initially began as a way to reduce hospital capacity and strains during the pandemic, and now consumers are showing a preference for them. The Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare gathered data for the report. (HealthLeaders Media article, 9/922)