Home Health & Hospice Week

The home care companies that are the subject of the Senate Finance Committee's report are themselves weighing in. Amedisys Inc., which was probably the most criticized in the report, issued a statement saying, "we are disappointed with the Committee's conclusions, and we stand by our company's integrity, ethics, and patient care practices. We are proud of our mission, which is to provide the highest quality care for our nation's chronically ill, elderly population, while managing a compliant, efficient and financially sound business."

Likewise, Gentiva Health Services "maintains its belief that the company is providing the highest quality of care and receives payment within the standards set forth by the reimbursement system established by ...CMS," it says in a statement.

"Gentiva's therapy utilization patterns were not driven by the adjustment to reimbursement in January of 2008," the chain maintains. "The care pattern in 2008 ... is very similar to the care pattern in 2007."

LHC Group Inc. entered into a settlement with the Department of Justice on a case that partially involved medical necessity of therapy services (see related story, p. 283), the company notes in a release. "In the course of that inquiry, all of the materials supplied by LHC Group to the Senate Finance Committee were also supplied to the Department of Justice," the chain points out. "LHC Group is pleased to have put this matter behind us."

Almost Family Inc. applauds the Senate Finance investigators for essentially clearing it of charges about pressuring staff to hit thresholds. "Our corporate office does not dictate care plans to our local clinicians," Almost Family CEO William Yarmuth says in a release.

Stockholders don't seem entirely convinced of the companies' arguments. Stock prices for Amedisys, LHC and Gentiva have seen double-digit decreases since the report was issued. Gentiva's stock has been particularly hard hit, with a decrease of more than 50 percent.