Why this report matters

Trella Health recently released its 2025 Post-Acute Care Industry Trend Report, and it includes powerful insights that every home health agency should know. This report explains how older adults are moving through the healthcare system, what has changed in the past year, and why agencies need to start planning differently right away.

"Better data leads to better healthcare decisions," says Trella Health CEO Scott Tapp. "We're helping providers see what matters most."

Here are some of the most important highlights from the report:

• 22.6% of Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) patients went to home health after a hospital stay in the last quarter of 2024 — the first time this number has gone up in several years.

• 55.4% of Medicare patients are now enrolled in Medicare Advantage, and 30 states have passed the 50% mark.

• PPO health plan enrollment rose 19.8% in just one year, while HMO enrollment grew only 4.3%.

• Patients who started home health care within 7 days had fewer hospital readmissions — 12.7% compared to 15.1% for those who didn’t.

• Some states use home health a lot more than others — there's a 25-point difference between the highest and lowest usage rates.

These numbers show that the healthcare world is changing fast. Home health agencies can’t rely on old strategies. They need to take new steps to grow, stay competitive, and care for more patients successfully.

1. Focus on PPO Plans

PPO health plans are growing faster than any other kind of Medicare Advantage plan. That’s great for insurance companies, but it can be tricky for home health agencies. People with PPOs don’t always get referred to home health as often as HMO members do. That means agencies have to work harder to earn those referrals.

Questions to ask:

• Are we in-network with the biggest PPOs in our area?

• Are we helping these plans see how we improve care and reduce hospital readmissions?

• Do we have strong relationships with local doctors and discharge planners?

Tip: If your agency regularly starts care within 48 hours of a referral, tell PPO leaders and include the data to prove it. That can show you’re ready to take on more patients quickly.

Trella’s report notes that "Fast and smooth care transitions are key in today’s healthcare partnerships."

Agencies that build strong PPO strategies now will be better prepared as more patients join these plans.

2. Help More Patients Follow Their Discharge Plan

Just because a patient is referred to home health doesn’t mean they start care. Life gets busy, people forget appointments, and sometimes no one follows up. But Trella’s data shows that when patients do follow through and begin home health care, they’re much less likely to return to the hospital.

To improve follow-through:

• Make sure your staff connects with hospital teams before the patient goes home.

• Set up text message reminders for patients and family caregivers.

• Track which hospitals and doctors send you the most successful referrals.

Helping more patients complete their discharge plan not only improves outcomes — it also builds trust with hospitals and insurers. It shows that your agency is serious about helping patients recover at home.

You can also look into family education, follow-up calls, and easy-to-use patient guides that explain what to expect. When patients know why home health is important, they’re more likely to stick with it.

3. Don’t Just Chase Volume — Price for Risk

Every year, fewer patients are staying on traditional fee-for-service Medicare. At the same time, rules and paperwork are increasing. Visits are shorter, but the documentation takes longer. It’s a tough balance.

To keep your agency healthy, it’s time to think differently. Instead of focusing only on seeing more patients, plan around the realities of:

• Fewer FFS patients overall

• More time spent on charting and compliance

• Contracts that reward good outcomes, not just the number of visits

The Home Health Value-Based Purchasing (HHVBP) program from CMS is here to stay. If you haven’t already, study your agency’s scores and look for ways to improve in areas like patient satisfaction, timely care, and reducing hospital stays.

Trella also offers tools to help agencies understand local trends and payer mix. Use those tools to plan better budgets and smarter pricing.

4. Use Smart Tech to Help Your Team

Many nurses and staff members are feeling overwhelmed. There’s too much paperwork, too many systems, and not enough time to do what they love — caring for patients. The good news is that more agencies are turning to technology to help.

Trella’s report shows growing interest in tools like:

• Voice-to-text documentation that helps nurses chart faster

• AI-powered summaries for visits

• Software that flags high-risk patients so teams can visit them sooner

You don’t have to overhaul everything at once. Try starting with one team:

• Give them access to voice dictation

• Ask them how much time they save each day

• Measure changes in burnout, visit quality, and satisfaction

One home health leader told Trella, "Technology isn’t replacing our team – it’s helping them."

The goal is not to take away the human side of care — it’s to make it easier for humans to focus on what matters.

5. Grow in the Right Places

Not every area uses home health care the same way. In some states, it’s common. In others, it’s rare. Trella’s report found a 25-point difference in usage from state to state. That’s a huge gap, and it means some counties have room for big growth.

To find those opportunities:

• Look at local hospital discharge numbers

• Find out how many of those patients get referred to home health

• Check which hospitals are being penalized for readmissions

Next, match that with your agency’s coverage area:

• Do you already have staff nearby?

• Are your CMS Star Ratings strong?

• Do you have room to take on more patients?

Sometimes, expanding doesn’t mean opening a new office. It can simply mean focusing your outreach on new zip codes, building relationships with new doctors, or launching a digital ad campaign to raise awareness.

Final Thought: Make the Data Work for You

The Trella 2025 report is more than just a summary of trends — it’s a guide to what works in today’s healthcare system. It’s packed with facts, but more importantly, it shows where the smart opportunities are. Home health agencies that act now will be in the best position to:

• Win more referrals from PPO plans

• Help patients stick to their care plans

• Manage costs and complexity better

• Support their teams with helpful technology

• Grow in areas where home health is still underused

Need help making this plan happen? CareBestie’s AI tools are built for home health. We can help you simplify the busywork, support your nurses, and grow without burning out your team.