Home Health Research Guide

Guides and resources to help families make informed home health decisions — based on government data, not paid placements.

Data Explained2026-03-01

How to Read CMS Home Health Star Ratings (And Why the Referral System Hides Them)

CMS rates every Medicare-certified home health agency on a 1-5 star scale. The ratings exist. The data is public. But the system that connects patients to agencies has no incentive to show it to you.

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Data Explained2026-02-15

Hospital Readmission Rates: The Number That Tells You More Than Star Ratings

A home health agency's hospitalization rate tells you how often their patients end up back in the hospital. It varies wildly between agencies in the same area. Here's how to read it and what to watch for.

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Guide2026-02-01

8 Questions to Ask Any Home Health Agency Before You Commit

You're choosing a home health agency for yourself or someone you love. The discharge planner gave you a name. Before you say yes, ask these eight questions — and know what good answers sound like.

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Industry2026-01-15

Private Equity in Home Health Care: What Families Should Know

Private equity firms have acquired hundreds of home health agencies in the past decade. Research from the American Antitrust Institute and academic journals documents what happens to quality and costs when PE enters healthcare. Here's what the data shows.

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Data Explained2026-01-01

What Is the CAHPS Patient Survey? Home Health Experience Ratings Explained

The CAHPS survey asks real home health patients about their experience. It measures communication quality, respect, timeliness, and willingness to recommend. Here's what the scores mean and why they matter alongside clinical outcomes.

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