Moving Forward in 2017: Top Trends and Predictions

We’ve reached an inflexion point in the home care industry, and the coming year is likely to result in several major steps forward in the areas of technology, quality and structure in the industry.

Over the past year, Medicaid payers at the state and Managed Care Organization (MCO) level have begun to realize the value of a continued emphasis on collaboration to ensure better member care. As part of this shift, stakeholders within the home care industry are placing increased value on communication and collaboration as it relates to compliance and better care.

This shift in sentiment is sparking change in several areas. As we gear up for 2017, there are noteworthy industry trends that are hold outs from last year that we can expect to stick around, and some new trends that will play a prominent role within the industry.

1. Connectivity will continue to improve across the home care ecosystem: In a movement to connect real-time home care data with existing data in care management systems, the healthcare industry will have the tools for more proactive managed long-term services and supports (MLTSS) member satisfaction. Access to transparent information will bring members closer to payers and providers to ensure consistent communication and clarity across the board.
2. The rise of MCOs will continue: There will be an increased movement of home care members from state programs to MCOs, pushing the need for compliance, oversight and general program integrity. MCOs are working to strengthen plan-of-care compliance, ultimately reassuring payers that their members are receiving proper care and reducing fraud, waste and abuse along with it.
3. Quality will be measured and demanded: As the shift continues, state programs will look to measure MCO productivity and quality across the members they have migrated into managed care. This change in care management means providers will also need to increase their oversight and compliance efforts to maintain and meet State and payer expectations.
4. New technology will play a critical role: Over the next several years, advancing technologies, including wearables, will continue to expand the home care space, further allowing us to explore and discover improved patient outcomes. These technologies have the ability to provide more information about member health in real time, and open new doors to improve care and treatment plans.

Changing policies, evolving care management systems and advancing technologies are only some of the trends we look forward to in 2017. In 2016, we saw a continued push for collaboration and patient-centric care, and we expect care compliance and program integrity in the home care system to increase as companies take advantage of tools available to put the patient first.

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