BREAKING NEWS: Health (2)

New genetic mutation linked to highly invasive streptococcus pyogenes infections

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 05:40:23 +0000

A group of researchers led by The University of Osaka have identified a novel genetic mutation in Streptococcus pyogenes, a common bacterium which causes strep throat, significantly associated with severe invasive infections.

Vaping recreates 1970s smoking uptake rates in UK teens

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 05:32:55 +0000

UK teens who currently vape are as likely to take up smoking as their peers in the 1970s, despite a substantial fall in the prevalence of teenage smoking over the past 50 years, suggests a long term intergenerational study published online in the journal Tobacco Control.

New study connects ultra-processed foods to lung cancer

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 05:12:48 +0000

A higher intake of ultra processed food (UPF) is linked to an increased risk of lung cancer, suggests research published online in the respiratory journal Thorax.

How cardiac rehab offers significant benefits for atrial fibrillation

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 04:55:23 +0000

Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation lessens the severity, frequency, and recurrence of the most common form of irregular heart rhythm, atrial fibrillation, or AF for short, finds a pooled data analysis of the available research, published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Vanderbilt team explores functional β-cell enhancement for diabetes

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 04:40:15 +0000

If it has seemed like more people you know are developing diabetes, you are right. The diabetes epidemic is not called that for nothing: According to the American Diabetes Association, over 10 percent of the U.S. population-approximately 38.4 million people-had diabetes in 2021, and 1.2 million more people get diagnosed each year.

Vegan teens exercise more often than meat-eating peers, study finds

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 01:40:00 +0000

A nationwide Austrian study of nearly 9,000 teens reveals distinct health behaviors and motivations among vegetarian, vegan, and omnivorous students. Vegan and vegetarian youth are more likely to report higher fruit, vegetable, and activity levels, but still fall short of daily exercise targets.

Study debunks "No Nut November" claims: Abstinence shows no health benefits or harms

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 00:48:00 +0000

A new study in The Journal of Sexual Medicine found that participating in “No Nut November”, a month-long abstinence challenge, had no measurable effect on sexual well-being. The only significant difference was that participants reported higher sexual flexibility, likely reflecting a pre-existing trait.

Prenatal phthalates lower boys' verbal IQ but lift girls' performance IQ, Canadian study reveals

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 00:17:00 +0000

Prenatal exposure to certain phthalates, especially DiDP, was linked to slightly lower IQ scores in preschoolers, with boys appearing more vulnerable. Other phthalates, like MMP and MBzP, showed small positive associations, but mixture effects were not significant.

A 15-year study reveals which diets best protect your brain and heart in later life

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 23:45:00 +0000

Older adults who consistently followed healthy dietary patterns, especially AHEI, MIND, and AMED, accumulated chronic diseases more slowly over 15 years. Diets high in pro-inflammatory foods were linked to a faster buildup of multimorbidity, particularly in cardiovascular and neuropsychiatric conditions.

Immigration Policies Hit Home-Based Care Industry As Providers Lose Workers

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 21:20:41 +0000

This article is a part of your HHCN+ Membership

The Trump administration’s immigration crackdown has prompted home-based care providers to fear that changes in immigrant worker policies could lead to a loss of essential staff – and providers have begun to see these threats materialize.

In early July, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) notified Honor CEO Seth Sternberg that work permits for some of the company’s employees could be revoked.

“Given the notice from DHS, we will begin re-verifying the eligibility of current employees who have already been verified and authorized to work,” Sternberg told Home Health Care News. “Should any employee’s authorization be revoked, we will need to remove them from their clients and replace them with another employee.”

San Francisco-based Honor is a home care tech company that owns Home Instead.

Sternberg said in a LinkedIn post that while his team will follow the law, it “just makes no sense.”

“This isn’t removing immigrants with criminal backgrounds,” he wrote. “This is cancelling work authorizations for thousands of documented workers – some number of them professional caregivers – who our older adults need.”

A significant number of home-based care providers depend on a foreign-born workforce. Over 30% of all home care aides and more than 20% of all nursing assistants are foreign-born, according to LeadingAge.

John Sneath, CEO of Tribute Home Care, headquartered in Framingham, Massachusetts, said his company has received similar notice and has already lost nine caregivers, with at least six more in jeopardy. This has not only presented problems for the employees being terminated, but also for the company and its clients.

In Massachusetts, one in four health care workers is an immigrant. The percentage is even higher for home health aides, which had a 46% foreign-born workforce even before the recent influx of migrants to the state, according to the American Immigration Council.

Immigrants are a significant part of the long-term care workforce for the rest of the U.S. as well. As of 2023, over 820,000 immigrants were working as direct care workers providing long-term care in the U.S., including over 500,000 naturalized citizens and over 300,000 noncitizen immigrants, according to KFF. Notably, the share of direct-care workers providing LTC services who are immigrants increased from 24% in 2018 to 28% in 2023.

“All of these caregivers were working with clients who had built relationships. [Losing them] was tough for clients and, obviously, tough on everyone [who] works at Tribute to see that happen,” Sneath told HHCN.

Need for change

In an April 30 letter to Secretary Kristi Noem, LeadingAge CEO Katie Smith Sloan said that DHS’ decisions “have created immediate uncertainty and concern for employers and workers alike.”

“Unlike other sectors that depend heavily on foreign-born workers, the aging services field requires continuity, consistency and trust between direct care workers and those they serve,” Sloan wrote. “Longstanding relationships with staff contribute directly to residents’ emotional well-being and sense of security…the sudden loss of these individuals risks unsettling care routines, diminishing quality of care and distress among residents who depend on familiar, stable support in their daily lives.”

Sneath said that while he understands the argument that the U.S. wants more Americans to have the opportunity to be placed in these caregiving positions, the fact is that there aren’t many Americans who apply.

“We don’t see too many Americans apply, particularly in Massachusetts,” he explained. “In Maryland, about half of our caregivers are American-born. Let’s come up with a system that looks at industries and identifies those where we could use foreign-born workers.”

Beyond filling positions that Americans aren’t necessarily applying for, Sneath said foreign-born caregivers often bring a different perspective to caregiving, as they are usually from countries where caring for their elders is a cultural norm.

“It may sound cliché, but a lot of caregivers are from countries where they care for their relatives, and their introduction to caregiving was taking care of an [older relative],” he shared. “They have a sensitivity and experience.”

Sternberg noted that opinions were not political, but were about “protecting the caregiving infrastructure millions of families rely on.”

“To revoke legal work authorizations from those caring for our aging population, when the workforce is already struggling to keep up with the demand, is deeply counterproductive,” he said. “It will leave older adults without people they know, trust and rely on. It will drive up the cost of care.”

Inside the legislation

These regulations come at a time when Congress recently proposed a bill to support home- and community-based services (HCBS).

The bill allocates Medicaid funds to states for two years to stabilize their HCBS service networks, recruit and keep HCBS direct care workers and address the long-term service and support needs of individuals eligible for Medicaid home- and community-based services.

However, according to Sternberg, “the math doesn’t work.” Choice Health at Home CEO David Jackson agreed.

The mass deportation of undocumented immigrants could lead to a loss of $1.1 trillion to $1.7 trillion in 2022 dollars from the U.S. gross domestic product, according to a report from the American Immigration Council. Meanwhile, Medicare spending on home health has been continually reduced.

“The juxtaposition is hard to ignore,” Jackson said. “We are cutting a Medicare benefit that saves money and helps seniors age in place, while doubling down on deportation policies that could erode the very workforce we rely on. All of this is occurring as our deficit increases.”

Choice Health at Home, headquartered in Tyler, Texas, is a multi-state provider of home health, hospice, personal care and rehabilitation services.

Jackson said one of the most difficult parts for him is seeing the fear in the faces of his legal resident caregivers.

“That’s hard for me, and where I wish the rhetoric would change a bit,” he said. “I don’t think that these people who are just good people taking care of people that need to be taken care of should be afraid. We’ve done a lot of work to create confidence, but it’s the fear of an employee – that’s something they should not feel.”

Sternberg wrote that if the U.S. is going to cancel one program, it is “imperative that it be replaced with another” and that rather than shrinking an already untenably shallow caregiver workforce, lawmakers need to expand it. This would mean training qualified Americans who want to become caregivers, but there are not enough people for the job. He called on lawmakers to put a work authorization program in place, allowing qualified people from other countries to come to the U.S. to enable our older adult population to age gracefully, saying, “There is truly no other solution.”

Inside immigration legislation

New legislation could improve the standings for home-based care providers facing reductions in staff due to more stringent immigration policies. To reform immigration and keep long-term immigrants working, Congresswomen Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) and Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) introduced the Dignity Act of 2025 on July 15.

The goal of the act is to secure the border, enforce measures, improve the U.S. asylum system, ensure dignity for long-term immigrants, support American workers and strengthen the legal immigration process.

“Immigrants – especially those who have been in the U.S. for decades – make up a critical component of our communities and also of the American workforce and economy,” said Escobar. “The vast majority of immigrants are hard-working, law-abiding residents, and most Americans recognize that it is in our country’s best interest to find bipartisan reforms.”

Part of the legislation involves creating the Dignity Program, which provides a seven-year temporary legal status for undocumented immigrants who have been in the country for five years or more, prior to 2021. As a requirement of the program, immigrants must pass a criminal background check, pay $7,000 in restitution over seven years, not claim any federal benefits or entitlements and have no path to citizenship. Once these conditions are met, they may stay and work in the country.

The act also creates a new $70 billion fund for training and upskilling American workers by providing grants for apprenticeships, on-the-job training and higher education. This fund will be funded through the payments made by immigrants in the Dignity Program.

In a statement, LeadingAge said it supports the act while advocacy groups work toward “subsequent bipartisan bills addressing needed reforms to benefit our members more directly by creating and expanding legal pathways for foreign-born workers to enter the aging services sector.”

“LeadingAge will continue to advocate that these kinds of reforms be added to the Dignity Act or other pieces of legislation, monitor the bill’s progress, assess its impact on providers and the direct care workforce and advocate before Congress and the administration for immigration policy that benefits the aging services workforce.”

While legislation like this is a start, providers like Sternberg believe there is still progress to be made in resolving issues between immigration status and retaining caregivers in home care.

“We urge lawmakers to consider the full impact of these decisions and to quickly put in place an expedited visa policy for qualified individuals who wish to care for America’s elderly,” Sternberg said. “Without caregivers, there is no care.”

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Medicare Advantage Enrollment Reaches 54% In 2025, Drives Rising Federal Spending

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 20:42:20 +0000

As of 2025, over half of eligible beneficiaries are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan, according to a new KFF report.

As MA penetration has increased, home health providers have struggled to grow or even maintain their operations, and MA growth is expected to continue.

Enrollment in MA plans influences federal spending because Medicare payments to private plans surpass those for similar beneficiaries in traditional Medicare, according to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC).

In 2025, per-person payments will rise by 20%, adding $84 billion to federal expenditures. This is a significant increase from the $18 billion spent in 2015, when about one-third of eligible beneficiaries participated in MA plans, according to the report.

Considering the enrollment and spending trends, lawmakers are focusing more on how Medicare compensates private plans, although there is still no consensus on the approach or timeline for changes. Part of the challenge stems from concerns about how payment adjustments could affect beneficiaries’ ability to choose plans and access supplemental benefits like dental, vision and hearing coverage.

The proportion of eligible Medicare recipients enrolled in MA plans has skyrocketed from 19% in 2007 to 54% in 2025. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that by 2034, 64% of all Medicare beneficiaries will be enrolled in MA plans.

KFF reported that 62% of MA enrollees are in plans generally accessible to all beneficiaries for individual enrollment. While the proportion of individual plans remains stable in overall MA enrollment this year compared to last, their share has decreased since 2010, when they accounted for 71% of all enrollees. This decline is attributed to faster growth in special needs plans, now totaling nearly 7.3 million Medicare beneficiaries.

Of these 7.3 million people, over 80% are enrolled in plans designed for individuals eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. However, plans targeting people with specific chronic conditions grew by more than 70% between 2024 and 2025.

Furthermore, MA enrollment is concentrated among plans run by a few parent organizations, according to the report. UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) and Humana (NYSE: HUM) account for 46% of all MA enrollees nationwide. UHG is the largest provider and gained nearly 505,000 enrollees in 2025, while Elevance Health (NYSE: ELV) increased by about 250,000. In contrast, Humana enrollment decreased by approximately 297,000 between 2024 and 2025.

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‘Reimbursement Policy Is Workforce Policy’: The Alliance, Providers Navigate Proposed Rate Cuts, Workforce Efficiency

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 20:25:56 +0000

As proposed sweeping rate cuts are poised to transform the home health industry drastically, leaders are finding ways to safeguard care quality and access.

Maintaining a staff of home health workers who are ready to practice at the top of their license, through revamped virtual case management models or by connecting workers to their “why,” can help providers looking to increase efficiency in the face of the proposed 2026 home health rate cut. Still, pushing back against the proposed 2026 Medicare home health rate cut is critical to allowing providers to maintain strong workforces.

“It’s a misguided policy,” Dr. Steven Landers, CEO of the National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance), said at the 2025 National Alliance for Care at Home Financial Summit. “It’s dangerous. It’s going to hurt people.”

While the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services seeks to be budget neutral and modernize the home health payment system, cutting rates for home health “makes no sense,” Landers said.

“Somehow, in 2019, … the home health payment system was a $17.8 billion program, and now this year, it’s going to be a $15 billion program, and much less valuable dollars than they were in 2019,” Landers said. “We’ve got delays in care, agency closures, rural access issues. It makes no sense.”

While home health is being “decimated” and access to services declines, instances of potential fraud are present in some parts of the U.S., Landers said. He suggested that CMS take on these “obvious inefficiencies” while supporting legitimate providers.

Unique to the home health industry is CMS’ ability to recoup overpayments in a particular year, according to Hillary Loeffler, vice president of policy and regulatory affairs at the Alliance. Recoupments from 2020 to 2024 total $5.3 billion, Loeffler said. CMS will begin the recoupment process in 2025, representing an additional 5% cut on top of a 4% rate adjustment.

“That’s a crisis point for our industry,” Loeffler said. “The baseline total expenditures in the Medicare program for home health is going to be around $15 billion that year. For us to owe CMS $5 billion in overpayments is, frankly, astronomical. We have serious issues with their methodology, and we’re going to do everything we can to hopefully get them to see the light on this.”

Workforce strategies

In the face of such cost pressures, providers must focus on efficiency.

Improving retention and staff productivity are key strategies to doing so, as well as allowing workers to practice at the top of their license. Creating a strong culture and reminding staff about why they chose to work in their field are priorities for CommonSpirit Health at Home, according to Trisha Crissman, the company’s CEO.

“Probably the number one focus for our organization when it comes to our workforce clinicians in the field is the increasing need and urgency to continue to help them connect to their ‘why’, especially as patients come to us who are much more acute than they used to be,” Crissman said.

Milford, Ohio-based CommonSpirit Health at Home offers specialized home care, home infusion, hospice and medical transportation services from 83 locations across 13 states. The company is the home-based care arm of health system CommonSpirit Health.

To connect workers to their “why,” Crissman said CommonSpirit has updated its virtual case management model. The company predicts that it can add 2,200 more starts of care for home health with senior staff, which Crissman said was “significant.” The organization is also seeking to ensure paraprofessional ratios are healthy.

Creating a positive environment will also encourage workers to join, Crissman said.

While Crissman said the company has achieved its lowest turnover rate in a decade, she is still “nervous.”

“I’m nervous about when, not if, but when, our employees, my clinicians, will come to the awareness that possibly I don’t have all of the bells and whistles layered onto technology and how they go about their work to make their lives easier, because I can’t afford it,” Crissman said. “So I have to figure out how to afford it, which means I have to continue to ask deeper questions about how, not if, we’re going to improve efficiency and productivity with the staff I already have.”

Some potential regulatory changes could improve the workforce status quo, according to Landers. The Trump administration’s deregulation agenda – including proposed changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the potential repeal of the 80/20 rule – could be helpful for home health agencies’ workforce woes.

“Deregulation is potentially a way to support our creativity and our ability to innovate and maneuver reimbursement policy,” Landers said. “Reimbursement policy is workforce policy. It’s the purchasing power that the providers have to be able to put those angels on the front line.”

The post ‘Reimbursement Policy Is Workforce Policy’: The Alliance, Providers Navigate Proposed Rate Cuts, Workforce Efficiency appeared first on Home Health Care News.

Oral cancer risk triples among individuals with cannabis use disorder

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 19:29:11 +0000

A recent study by researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine has found that individuals with cannabis use disorder (CUD) are more than three times more likely to develop oral cancer within five years compared to those without CUD.

Your sleep schedule could be making you sick, says massive new study

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 15:06:06 +0000

A global study of over 88,000 adults reveals that poor sleep habits—like going to bed inconsistently or having disrupted circadian rhythms—are tied to dramatically higher risks for dozens of diseases, including liver cirrhosis and gangrene. Contrary to common belief, sleeping more than 9 hours wasn't found to be harmful when measured objectively, exposing flaws in previous research. Scientists now say it's time to redefine “good sleep” to include regularity, not just duration, as biological mechanisms like inflammation may underlie these powerful sleep-disease links.

How the brain stores 'unattended' information: Neuronal firing disproves activity-silent hypothesis

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 11:00:01 +0000

Understanding how the human brain stores information and later uses it to complete various tasks has been a long-standing goal of neuroscience and psychology research. Past studies have identified different types of memory processes that have distinct roles and characteristics.

Walk faster, live longer: How just 15 minutes a day can boost lifespan

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 06:36:54 +0000

Fast walking, even just 15 minutes a day, can dramatically reduce the risk of death, especially from heart disease, according to a large study involving nearly 80,000 low-income and predominantly Black Americans in the South. The findings not only affirm the well-known health benefits of walking but also highlight how pace matters and how fast walking offers a powerful, accessible tool for improving health across underserved communities.

This gut hormone could explain 40% of IBS-D cases—and lead to a cure

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 05:33:52 +0000

A mysterious gut hormone may be behind many cases of chronic diarrhea, especially in people with undiagnosed bile acid malabsorption, a condition often mistaken for irritable bowel syndrome. Researchers from the University of Cambridge identified that the hormone INSL5 spikes when bile acid reaches the colon, triggering intense diarrhea. Their discovery not only sheds light on the biological cause of symptoms but opens the door to a diagnostic blood test and new treatment options, including a surprising existing drug that blocks this hormone’s effects.

Columbia scientists turn yogurt into a healing gel that mimics human tissue

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 04:12:14 +0000

Scientists at Columbia Engineering have developed an injectable hydrogel made from yogurt-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) that could revolutionize regenerative medicine. These EVs serve both as healing agents and as structural components, eliminating the need for added chemicals. The innovation leverages everyday dairy products like yogurt to create a biocompatible material that mimics natural tissue and enhances healing.

Silent Harm: Recognizing Early Medical Signs of Nursing-Home Abuse

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 00:26:42 +0000

Abuse of older people is far more common than most families realize. A recent World Health Organization fact sheet reports that one in six adults over 60 experienced abuse in community settings last year, while a staggering two out of three nursing-home staff admitted to committing abuse within the same period.

Home Helpers Launches Home Health Aide Training Program To Build The Next Wave Of Caregivers

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 21:46:19 +0000

In response to a critical shortage of certified home health aides (CHHAs), one Home Helpers franchise has launched a new program to increase its pipeline of care workers.

Home Helpers Home Care in Freehold launched a program in partnership with Ocean County Vocational Technical School (OCVTS) in Toms River, New Jersey, to develop a new certified home health aide (CHHA) program for adults interested in entering the health care field.

Home Helpers and OCTVS launched the program after identifying a need for quality care in the community, according to Melissa Magabilin, nursing director for Home Helpers.

“Home Helpers needs highly skilled CHHAs and OCTVS has the resources to help get these folks trained and into the community,” Magabilin told Home Health Care News. “By joining forces, both organizations are helping fill the gap between at-risk populations in our community, not having qualified caring people available and training the right people to fill those needs.”

Founded in 1997, Home Helpers Home Care in Freehold, New Jersey, offers in-home personal care and companionship to older adults and individuals with disabilities.

Students must complete 60 hours of classroom instruction followed by 16 hours of clinical practice. The curriculum encompasses several modules, including safety, body systems with related care, as well as home care and hospice-specific training. The clinical segment provides students with the opportunity to practice and gain hands-on experience in a modern clinical setting.

After completing the program, students are equipped and certified to apply for positions within home care organizations or may be hired directly by Home Helpers.

Students are also trained to comply with all state and health department protocols, ensuring the highest standards of care and safety for both patients and aides. In addition to personal care, certified home health aides may be asked to perform homemaking activities, depending on patient needs and under the supervision of a registered professional nurse.

Magabilin said she would love to see the program implemented on a state or national level, given the nationwide shortage of CHHAs.

“The biggest challenge home care agencies in our area face today is the lack of qualified and caring professionals who want to continue their careers in today’s health care setting,” she said. “By collaborating with OCTVS, Home Helpers can train new CHHAs from the beginning and ensure that by the end of class, they have the knowledge to enter the home care world as a skilled professional.”

Both Home Helpers and OCVTS say they help students succeed by walking them through the application process, completing the class, passing their exam and starting to work almost immediately, according to Magabilin. Students have full access to school resources as well as additional resources through Home Helpers.

“OCVTS strives to prepare our students for work as authentically as possible using problem-based learning,” Jeremy Dusza, principal of adult education, told HHCN. “Partnering with industry provides the most current lessons in meeting the needs of its consumers. It also creates a short pathway from classroom to career by establishing relationships with hiring personnel and the people they serve. Educational institutions partnering with businesses to provide community services sustainably have proven to be a model for success, and we aim to do our part.”

Magabilin acknowledged that health care is constantly evolving as people age, retire later in life and require more care than in previous decades. She said the future of each CHHA lies within each state’s acknowledgement that they are skilled and qualified health care professionals.

“We need to prepare for this increase with medical professionals now,” she said. “If we can assist in keeping the at-risk populations safe and healthy at home, we are doing our part in keeping the resources freed up for others with more complex health issues in nursing homes, clinics and other facilities. We know through science that people thrive at home when given the right tools and help.”

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MACPAC: Medicaid Home- And Community-Based Services Users Reach 2.5 Million As Institutional Care Declines

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 21:20:32 +0000

The number of Medicaid beneficiaries using home- and community-based services (HCBS) has increased in recent years, reaching over 2.5 million individuals – while the number of beneficiaries utilizing institutional long-term services and supports (LTSS) declined.

HCBS use increased by 2.6% of all Medicaid beneficiaries from 2019 to 2021, according to the Medicaid and CHIP Payment Advisory Commission’s (MACPAC) July brief. The number of beneficiaries using institutional long-term services and Supports (LTSS), meanwhile, declined from 1.8 million in 2019 to 1.5 million in 2021.

To draw its conclusions, MACPAC analyzed HCBS use and spending patterns for Medicaid fee-for-service HCBS users from 2010 to 2013, identifying trends in HCBS within specific demographics.

“Through previous MACPAC work, state and federal officials, as well as national experts, shared the need to identify potential differences in utilization and spending among LTSS subpopulation groupings, but data are lacking,” the report read. “Stakeholders emphasized the importance of stratifying data by, for example, race and ethnicity or geographic location to identify differences. One expert noted that these data would allow policymakers to monitor and ensure all populations are adequately served.”

The report found that home-based services were the second most used HCBS category, making up 24.4% of all HCBS services.

Researchers also identified that the demographics of HCBS users differed from those of the overall Medicaid population.

Over 40% of HCBS users were 65 years or older, compared to more than 9% of the overall Medicaid population. HCBS users were also more likely to be blind or disabled, more likely to be eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare and less likely to identify as Hispanic, according to the report.

Medicaid spending on HCBS has increased in recent history, and in 2021 Medicaid spending on HCBS reached $82.5 billion compared to $66.6 billion on institutional care. Per-user spending was lower for HCBS, however. Total spending on HCBS per user in 2021 was over $32,000, while total spending on institutional LTSS per user reached over $45,000.

Medicaid’s budget for HCBS is now in question, with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA) containing Medicaid cuts totalling $1 trillion over the next decade.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has also recently announced that it will no longer approve funding for new Medicaid workforce initiatives focused on home- and community-based services.

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After Split From Best Buy, Current Health Zeroes In On Complex At-Home Care

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 17:16:36 +0000

When Best Buy (NYSE: BBY) purchased Current Health in 2021, it signaled a significant expansion of retail presence in the home-based care space.

Fast forward, four years later, and the business is back under the helm of its co-founder and former CEO, Christopher McGhee.

Current Health’s platform includes remote patient monitoring, telehealth, a full support model and patient engagement tools. The company partners with health care providers across the country to enable them to deliver at-home care, including hospital-at-home.

Having purchased his business back, McGhee is focused on Current Health’s next chapter, which includes a focus on more complex care, growth and building a sustainable business. He recently discussed the Best Buy divestiture, the untapped opportunities in the at-home care space and the uncertain hospital-at-home waiver in a conversation with Home Health Care News.

The transcript below has been edited for length and clarity.

HHCN: Can you walk me through the backstory of the deal? When did talks to buy back the company begin, and then how did we get here?

McGhee: The conversation started over the last two or three months.

I left Best Buy in March of 2024. I remained excited about the home and community-based health care space. When the conversation cropped up about reacquiring Current Health, I felt like the company still had the best clients on the market, the best product on the market, the best team on the market, so it represented a really good foundation to continue growing and building in this space.

What changes can we expect now that Current Health is an independent company again, and no longer part of Best Buy?

The mission of the companies is still exactly the same. Our focus is, how do we shift as much appropriate health care as possible out of institutional settings like the hospital and into home and community-based settings.

More tactically, over the next 12 to 18 months, we’re going to focus on the more complex, high-risk and acute populations. That includes things like hospital-at-home, but also some of the work that we’ve been doing in oncology, where there is the potential to deliver those services outpatient, or even in the patient’s own home.

We’re also super focused on being the absolute best product in the world. When I say product, I mean software, hardware, logistics, operations, clinical — I don’t just mean technology. That means working with our partners right at the frontlines, with frontline nurses, frontline doctors, understanding what we can do better, and really getting back to our innovation routes and building out the best product in the world for those complex acute patients with our clinical partners.

You mentioned the company would return to a scrappiness, startup spirit.

When I talk about that scrappiness, a big part of that is how we can make sure that the people on our team who are building this product are in absolute lockstep with the frontline users and build with urgency to deliver them the absolute best product.

The other thing is listening to our market, listening to our customers, in areas where we can help them increase the scale, increase the number of patients who can successfully, safely get access to high-quality care in the home, whether it’s within a hospital-at-home program or an oncology at-home program.

While there’s been tremendous growth in this space, it’s still an immature space, and there’s lots of mutual learning that can go on between us, our clinical partners, in order to define what really is the best-in-class template for oncology at home or hospital-at-home. We’re all learning together and then bringing that out to the rest of the market.

What are your strategic priorities going forward?

I have two priorities. One is building a sustainable, profitable company, and the second one is focusing on those complex, acute, high-risk populations where we have traditionally been really strong. Today, a third of the U.S. hospital-at-home volume flows through Current Health, and we’re already a strong player there. I want us to do more. We’re already a strong player in the oncology space. I want us to do more.

What are some of the biggest untapped opportunities that you see in the at-home care space?

Over the last few years, we have seen drugs come out that either cure different types of cancers or turn them into chronic diseases that people can live with. These drugs are also expensive, and they create new support requirements for patients that hospitals and doctors haven’t necessarily had to deal with before. One of our partners, Sarah Cannon, has published really good data with us showing that these types of drugs can be safely delivered in the outpatient and home environment. I think the opportunity there is absolutely tremendous, and it’s one of the reasons why we’re really focused on this complex, acute space.

What are some of the biggest challenges you foresee? How will Current Health navigate these challenges?

I think the first one is just regulatory certainty. If we look at the hospital-at-home model, its growth has been predicated on the Acute Hospital Care at Home waiver that’s being extended time and time again. That waiver needs to be made permanent. We hope that Congress will act to do that.

This is also a cultural shift for many institutions. If I think back to like, 2018, 2019, many of these concepts were fairly new in the space. That cultural shift has been quite remarkable to see over the last four or five years, as our health system partners deliver health care throughout the entire community, not just within their hospitals. I think the technology and services improvements from companies like my own are also important. We can look at where there are logistical, operational or technical reasons why certain patient groups can’t be addressed. Our job is to make it as easy as possible for our clinical partners to move these patients home and safely deliver really high-quality care to them.

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Walk faster, age slower: The 14-step boost that builds strength

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 13:33:56 +0000

Walking just a bit faster could be the key to aging well. Researchers found that older adults who upped their walking pace by just 14 steps per minute significantly improved their physical abilities—even those who were already frail. A new, user-friendly smartphone app helps measure walking cadence more accurately than typical devices, making this science-backed health strategy easy to adopt. By shifting from a casual stroll to a brisker walk, older adults can stay active, independent, and energized in daily life.

Study maps changes in brain's 'neural noise' from childhood to adulthood

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 10:30:02 +0000

For over a century, neuroscientists and psychologists have been trying to understand the neurophysiological mechanisms underpinning the human brain's development from birth to late adulthood. While past studies have shed light on some of these mechanisms, several aspects of the brain's maturation remain poorly understood.

Science tested 64 natural remedies for depression—only a few actually work

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 07:42:32 +0000

Over-the-counter (OTC) products like St John’s Wort and omega-3s have long been touted for helping with depression, but new research reveals that 64 different OTC products have been tested in clinical trials, with varying levels of evidence. Some well-known options like St John’s Wort, saffron, and probiotics showed encouraging results, sometimes comparable to antidepressants. Others like folic acid, lavender, and lemon balm show emerging promise. Although few safety concerns were reported, researchers stress the need for better safety reporting and more studies, especially on commonly used but understudied herbal remedies.

Eggs are off the hook—study reveals bacon’s the real heart risk

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 03:58:27 +0000

Eggs are finally being vindicated after decades of cholesterol-related blame. New research from the University of South Australia reveals that eggs, despite their cholesterol content, aren't the dietary villains they've long been made out to be. Instead, it's the saturated fats found in foods like bacon and sausage that actually elevate harmful LDL cholesterol levels. In a world-first study, researchers showed that eating two eggs a day, as part of a low saturated fat diet, can even help reduce LDL cholesterol, challenging outdated guidelines and offering heart-healthy news for breakfast lovers everywhere.

Think it’s just aging? Why dementia is missed for 3.5 years on average

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 03:58:23 +0000

Many people with dementia endure long delays often over 3 years before receiving a diagnosis, with even longer waits for younger patients. A global review of over 30,000 cases reveals that age, dementia type, and systemic healthcare issues like specialist access and cultural barriers contribute to these delays. Researchers call for coordinated strategies to raise public awareness, reduce stigma, and train clinicians to recognize early symptoms and streamline referrals.

Can AI predict cancer? New model uses genomics to simulate tumors

Sun, 27 Jul 2025 15:09:21 +0000

A team of scientists has developed a remarkable new approach to modeling how cells behave over time—using a digital "forecast" much like predicting the weather. By combining patient genomics with a groundbreaking plain-language “hypothesis grammar,” the researchers can simulate how cells communicate and evolve within tissues. These simulations allow scientists to digitally test how cancers grow, how immune systems respond, and even how treatments might work in individual patients.

COVID vaccines saved 2. 5M lives globally—a death averted per 5,400 shots

Sun, 27 Jul 2025 14:17:54 +0000

Between 2020 and 2024, COVID-19 vaccines saved 2.5 million lives globally, preventing one death for every 5,400 doses. A groundbreaking worldwide study led by researchers from Università Cattolica and Stanford University reveals that most lives were saved before individuals were exposed to the virus, particularly during the Omicron period and among those aged 60+. The researchers also calculated 14.8 million years of life saved, with the elderly gaining the majority of these benefits.

Scientists discover the receptor that helps your brain clean itself—and fight Alzheimer’s

Sun, 27 Jul 2025 12:35:56 +0000

Scientists at UCSF have uncovered how certain immune cells in the brain, called microglia, can effectively digest toxic amyloid beta plaques that cause Alzheimer’s. They identified a key receptor, ADGRG1, that enables this protective action. When microglia lack this receptor, plaque builds up quickly, causing memory loss and brain damage. But when the receptor is present, it seems to help keep Alzheimer's symptoms mild. Since ADGRG1 belongs to a drug-friendly family of receptors, this opens the door to future therapies that could enhance brain immunity and protect against Alzheimer’s in more people.

Scientists just invented a safer non-stick coating—and it’s inspired by arrows

Sun, 27 Jul 2025 08:23:10 +0000

Scientists at the University of Toronto have developed a new non-stick material that rivals the performance of traditional PFAS-based coatings while using only minimal amounts of these controversial "forever chemicals." Through an inventive process called "nanoscale fletching," they modified silicone-based polymers to repel both water and oil effectively. This breakthrough could pave the way for safer cookware, fabrics, and other products without the environmental and health risks linked to long-chain PFAS.

Is the air you breathe silently fueling dementia? A 29-million-person study says yes

Sun, 27 Jul 2025 05:47:58 +0000

Air pollution isn't just bad for your lungs—it may be eroding your brain. In a sweeping review covering nearly 30 million people, researchers found that common pollutants like PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide, and soot are all linked to a significantly higher risk of dementia. The most dangerous? PM2.5—tiny particles from traffic and industry that can lodge deep in your lungs and reach your brain.

7000 steps a day cuts death risk by 47%—and that might be all you need

Sun, 27 Jul 2025 04:32:17 +0000

Walking 7000 steps a day may be just as powerful as hitting the much-hyped 10,000-step goal when it comes to reducing the risk of early death and disease. A sweeping global review of 57 studies shows that 7000 steps per day slashes the risk of dying early by nearly half—and brings major benefits across heart health, dementia, depression, and more. The bonus? Even walking from 2000 to 4000 steps per day brings measurable improvements. For millions of people, this study redefines what it means to "move enough."

Ivermectin: The mosquito-killing pill that dropped malaria by 26%

Sat, 26 Jul 2025 16:09:34 +0000

A groundbreaking study has revealed that the mass administration of ivermectin—a drug once known for treating river blindness and scabies—can significantly reduce malaria transmission when used in conjunction with bed nets.

This sugar substitute does more than sweeten — it kills cancer cells

Sat, 26 Jul 2025 02:30:33 +0000

Fermenting stevia with a banana leaf-derived probiotic turns it into a powerful cancer-fighting agent that kills pancreatic cancer cells while sparing healthy ones. The secret lies in a metabolite called CAME, produced through microbial transformation.

This DNA test can predict if a 5-year-old will be obese as an adult

Sat, 26 Jul 2025 02:17:56 +0000

What if we could predict obesity before it ever takes hold? A global team has created a genetic test that forecasts a child’s risk of adult obesity before age five—years before other factors kick in. By analyzing data from over five million people, their polygenic risk score doubles the predictive power of previous tools. While genetics isn’t destiny, those with higher genetic risk respond better to weight loss interventions but may regain weight quickly. The tool isn’t perfect, it performs far better in people of European ancestry, but it’s a game-changer in early prevention.

Only 32% of America’s 63 Million Family Caregivers Use Paid Help

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 22:03:18 +0000

The number of family caregivers in the U.S. has surged to 63 million adults in 2025, a 45% increase since 2015.

Despite the demands of caregiving, only 32% of family caregivers report using paid assistance, including home health aides and other direct care workers, according to a new report from AARP and The National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC).

Caregivers cited several concerns that keep them from engaging paid help.

“Use of respite care – short-term care that gives caregivers a break from their care responsibilities – is notably low,” the report read. “Although 39% of caregivers say respite would be helpful, only 13% use it, citing structural and subjective barriers such as lack of trust, shame, or concerns about quality of care.”

The work of caregiving has also become increasingly long-term and more intensive.

Family caregivers are now more likely to provide care for five or more years and spend an average of 27 hours per week providing care.

“Since 2020, more caregivers are providing some [activities of daily living] (ADLs) assistance, and more caregivers are providing help with multiple ADLs,” the report read. “Some groups of caregivers are more often engaged in these challenging tasks. Paid family caregivers more often help with any ADLs, whereas more African American/Black and Hispanic/Latino caregivers assist with multiple ADLs. For many, these tasks are physically difficult – 23% report struggling with these duties.”

The report found that 84% of family caregivers assist with three or more instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). While these tasks and other ADLs can be highly complex, only 11% received any formal training in the matter.

Similarly, family caregivers often perform medical or nursing tasks without formal training. These tasks include managing catheters, performing injections and monitoring vital signs. While 55% provide such tasks, only 22% report having received formal training.

“Sandwich generation caregiving” is also common in 2025. Nearly one-third of all caregivers report caring for both an adult with disabilities or complex medical conditions and a child at home.

“This research arrives at an inflection point for care in our nation,” the report read. “Policymakers, employers, and health care leaders are grappling with our nation’s growing demand for care and the impacts of that care across society. Americans today face complex decisions – balancing the pressures of family responsibilities and career with the reality of longer-living parents and increasing rates of chronic conditions and disabilities.”

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By the Bay Health CEO On Stretching Home Health Dollar, Surviving Proposed Rate Cuts

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 20:55:45 +0000

Even with a bevy of care services in its arsenal, By the Bay Health hasn’t taken its eye off home health.

By the Bay Health CEO Skelly Wingard aims to improve the quality and accessibility of the company’s home health care line by enhancing the company’s clinical informatics and collaborating across service lines and managed care. These initiatives emerge amid regulatory uncertainty, as proposed Medicare home health rate cuts have raised alarms across the industry. Wingard warned that such cuts could force many providers out of business.

By the Bay Health is an affiliate of the University of California San Francisco Health. The organization’s service lines include hospice, palliative, pediatric and skilled home health care. The company serves the entire Bay Area.

Wingard recently caught up with Home Health Care News to expand on her goals for By the Bay Health, as well as the company’s recruitment strategy, the advantages of being a nonprofit and the challenges the company is facing in the space.

Wingard will also be participating in a panel discussion entitled “The Promise of Integration: Inside the payvider model” at Home Health Care News’ FUTURE event in Dallas on September 15 to 17 in Dallas.

The transcript below has been edited for length and clarity.

HHCN: Your company has a broad scope of services. What are your priorities when it comes to the home health segment?

Wingard: We’re really proud that we serve many facets of the continuum of care. Right now, we are supporting hospice, home health, palliative care, both pediatric and adult. We also have a very broad set of bereavement services in the community. As far as home health, I’ve been surprised that there have been so many opportunities to coordinate and collaborate, not only within our other lines of service, but with our outside partners. It feels like we’ve seen tremendous outreach from our health plan, hospital system and overall community partners in being very interested in our home health division, and how we could partner differently.

The goal is, of course, to have the highest quality home health services possible in the Bay Area and where we serve. We’re really focusing on accessibility. That has been such a pain point for so many, so making sure that we’re accessible to as many folks as possible, and increasing our service hours when we can, expanding the complexity of our services, whether that’s wound care, infusion care, other types of complexity.

We’re really looking to expand and enhance our clinical informatics expertise. We have actually hired an informatics specialist, someone who is really well-versed in AI, and how an organization, specifically home-based models of care, uses data to make decisions and the electronic medical record to be able to build efficiencies. We all know that the dollar needs to be stretched as far as it possibly can, especially in home health, and we think that investing in clinical informatics might be a way for us to support the community with home health and also our partners.

What are some of the biggest opportunities By the Bay Health is seeing with this segment?

How do we partner closely with our managed care organizations to support the needs in the home health line of business? Managed care is only growing, and we want to be the leader. Instead of digging our heels in, we want to partner right alongside you to make sure we do whatever is needed to support this patient population. There has been such a resistance, for some reason, to managed care. We have to reduce the waste in the system. By the Bay Health is really a leader in understanding that specifically. We understand efficiencies, we understand scale, we understand how to partner well so that transitions are safe and seamless. We’re decreasing the cost of care as much as possible, so that we’re not having the robust costs that we’ve seen in health care overall.

What unique approaches is your company taking to address recruitment and retention? How have the results been?

We’re trying to build what we call the pathways to care career program. It’s really designed to draw attention to home-based models of care as an incredible opportunity in the health care profession. I’m a nurse by background, and I know many other disciplines can say through their education that the focus is traditionally on hospitals. Professional opportunities in home-based care really get very little attention in the academic curriculum. We’re changing that. We’ve started a program at one of our high schools in Marin County called introduction to the world of health care. We’ve started scholarships at two of the local colleges. We have started paid internship programs for high school students, so they get real experience in health care and an understanding of all of the different career options.

Is there anything that being a nonprofit allows your company to do that you think wouldn’t be possible otherwise?

I feel really lucky that we have a nonprofit corporate structure, because things like the pathways to care career program wouldn’t exist without the philanthropic efforts that we have within our organization to raise money for its development. Any operating margin that we have would need to go back to shareholders. Instead, it goes to these programs that serve the community to hopefully reduce the workforce shortages.

Last year, we invested $4 million in the communities that we serve, and that’s through all sorts of grant programs. Being a nonprofit means that we get to partner in the community very differently than a for-profit does.

What other industry challenges are top of mind? What strategies has the company put in place to combat these challenges?

One of the challenges that we experience, and we’re not unique in the industry, is the compensation that we’re seeing across the industry. It is just getting more and more difficult to compete with hospital wages and even ambulatory care wages and benefits of these larger organizations. We’re constantly monitoring wages, compensation and benefits, and doing our very best to learn what small tweaks we can make to remain competitive in the market.

Are there any regulatory concerns or policy shifts that your company is following? How will this impact your business?

I do have a significant concern about the [home health payment] proposal for a 6.4% decrease in Medicare payments. I think we are all really aware that there’s not a home health agency in the nation that is not having a tough time making a margin. This would potentially put a whole lot of people out of business.

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Dealbook: Caring Excellence Expands, Jewish Family Home Care Partners With MedBetterHealth To Utilize GUIDE Model

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 20:17:27 +0000

Caring Excellence opens new location

Caring Excellence has opened a new location in Florence, Kentucky, a state where the company has maintained a presence for over 13 years.

Caring Excellence provides personalized, non-medical home care, including assistance with daily routines, companionship and memory support. The move into northern Kentucky comes at a time when more families are seeking ways to help their loved ones age safely at home, according to the company.

“We know families in Northern Kentucky are already doing so much to care for their loved ones,” Marcus O’Malley, co-owner, said in a statement. “Our goal is to be a steady presence, someone they can count on when the needs become more than they can manage alone.”

Caring Excellence is a Kentucky-licensed, family-owned home care agency with offices in Louisville, Lexington and Florence.

Jewish Family Home Care partners with MedBetterHealth

Jewish Family Home Care has partnered with MedBetterHealth to increase access to comprehensive in-home dementia care for patients and caregivers in South Florida.

The partnership will enable Jewish Family Home Care, based in Plantation, Florida, to offer dementia care using the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) GUIDE model.

Jewish Family Home Care offers extensive, non-medical home health services for seniors in Broward County, Florida. Serving over 400 clients, including more than 300 Holocaust survivors, the company provides home health aides, companions, housekeepers and certified nursing assistants.

“Our partnership with MedBetterHealth demonstrates our dedication to providing innovative care solutions that enhance the well-being of patients and their families,” Robin Miller, CEO of Jewish Family Home Care, said in a statement. “As one of the few not-for-profit agencies involved in the GUIDE model, we are proud to lead in dementia-focused care.”

HealthSure 3X launches virtual in-home services app

Newark, New Jersey-based health technology firm HealthSure 3X has launched a mobile app that enables patients to connect with licensed health care professionals via virtual in-home medical care.

The app provides patient-centered services, such as virtual visits, remote monitoring and follow-up care. It is available on both Android and iOS platforms.

Patients can schedule appointments, consult with health care professionals via secure video sessions or messaging and receive personalized advice for ongoing care. The platform is built with HIPAA-approved security measures, ensuring the privacy and safety of data, according to the company.

Through ongoing communication and digital tracking, the platform lowers hospital readmission rates, improves continuity of patient care and supports patient adherence to treatment plans, according to the company.

The Newark-based tech firm plans to expand its virtual health care offerings to include mental health therapy, physical therapy and specialty consultations. It is also exploring integration with smart medical devices for real-time health monitoring, enabling more comprehensive virtual in-home medical services.

Right at Home expands in North Carolina

Right at Home has announced that Greenville, North Carolina, will be the location for its next phase of strategic expansion. The brand plans to expand into a new territory within the year to meet the growing demand for high-quality in-home care services in the area.

“As we continue to grow, we’re prioritizing markets like Greenville that align with our mission and offer potential for meaningful impact,” Jennifer Chaney, vice president of franchise development, said in a statement. “We’re looking for passionate entrepreneurs who want to make a difference in their communities while benefiting from a proven business model and an extensive support system.”

Greenville offers a strong opportunity for in-home care services, with an aging population of 24,839 and 12 successful territories in the state, according to the company.

Right at Home provides in-home care throughout the U.S. and in four other countries, with over 750 locations.

The Alliance revamps CaringInfo program

CaringInfo.org, a program of the National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance), is expanding its resources with a new planning section and a brand refresh to better serve its growing audience.

The program’s content is expanding to include information and resources on the full range of home-based care services. The new section covers key topics such as when in-home care is necessary, how to prepare for in-home caregivers, who provides in-home care services, how to find a caregiver and how to pay for in-home care.

“CaringInfo is a valuable resource widely used by hospice, palliative and advanced care planning experts, as well as patients and families seeking help and guidance,” Alliance CEO Dr. Steve Landers said in a statement. “The launch of ‘Planning for In-Home Care’ marks an exciting step in the ongoing expansion of CaringInfo to offer resources and guidance on the full spectrum of home-based care and to serve as a resource for all providers under the Alliance umbrella.”

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No Jail for Texas Mom Accused of Medical Child Abuse in Munchausen by Proxy Case

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 19:05:07 +0000

A Texas mom accused of medical child abuse in an alleged Munchausen by proxy case will face no jail time after a decision by a grand jury not to indict her.

Marjorie Taylor Greene Calls Out 'Absolutely Unaffordable' Insurance Prices After Voting to Kick Millions Off Their Insurance

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 17:28:07 +0000

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green railed against high insurance costs, weeks after signing the Big, Beautiful Bill that will strip millions of their health insurance.

Millipedes make ants dizzy — and might soon treat human pain

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 11:14:16 +0000

Millipedes, often dismissed as creepy crawlies, may hold the secret to future painkillers and neurological drugs. Researchers at Virginia Tech discovered unique alkaloid compounds in the defensive secretions of a native millipede species. These complex molecules, which cause disorientation in ants, interact with human neuroreceptors linked to pain and cognition. By decoding these natural chemical defenses, scientists could open a new path toward innovative drug therapies, though challenges remain in producing the compounds at scale.

Human CLOCK gene enhances brain connectivity and mental flexibility in mice, study finds

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 11:00:01 +0000

Clock genes are a set of genes known to contribute to the regulation of the human body's internal 24-hour cycle, also known as the circadian rhythm. One of these genes is the so-called CLOCK gene, a protein that regulates the activity of other genes, contributing to recurrent patterns of sleep and wakefulness.

The plant virus that trains your immune system to kill cancer

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 09:07:43 +0000

A virus from humble black-eyed peas is showing extraordinary promise in the fight against cancer. Unlike other plant viruses, the cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV) can awaken the human immune system and transform it into a cancer-fighting powerhouse, without infecting human cells. By comparing it to a similar, but ineffective, virus, researchers uncovered that CPMV uniquely triggers potent interferons and immune responses, making it a low-cost, plant-grown immunotherapy on the fast track toward clinical trials.

AI turns immune cells into precision cancer killers—in just weeks

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 03:24:16 +0000

A breakthrough AI system is revolutionizing cancer immunotherapy by enabling scientists to design protein-based keys that train a patient s immune cells to attack cancer with extreme precision. This method, capable of reducing development time from years to weeks, was successfully tested on known and patient-specific tumor targets. Using virtual safety screenings to avoid harmful side effects, the platform represents a leap forward in personalized medicine.

This bedtime snack swap could rewire your gut and help prevent diabetes

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 03:20:00 +0000

A new study reveals that swapping a typical nighttime carbohydrate snack for pistachios may beneficially alter gut bacteria in people with prediabetes. Conducted by Penn State researchers, the 12-week clinical trial found that pistachio consumption increased beneficial gut microbes like Roseburia and reduced harmful ones such as Blautia hydrogenotrophica. These microbiome changes could potentially support metabolic health and slow the progression to Type 2 diabetes. While more research is needed to confirm health outcomes, this study positions pistachios as a promising late-night snack with microbiome-boosting potential.

Four hidden types of autism revealed — and each tells a different genetic story

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 02:45:07 +0000

Scientists at Princeton and the Simons Foundation have identified four biologically distinct subtypes of autism, using data from over 5,000 children and a powerful new computational method. These subtypes—each with unique traits, developmental paths, and genetic signatures—promise to revolutionize how we understand, diagnose, and treat autism.

Home-Based Hospice Operators Welcome CMS Anti-Fraud Efforts

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 21:16:13 +0000

In an effort to combat fraud, the hospice industry may see increased scrutiny from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Home-based care providers that offer hospice services, including AccentCare and Elara Caring, told Home Health Care News they hope that CMS will act on their statements about bad actors in the industry – and that a crackdown would protect “high-integrity” providers.

Last week, Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of CMS, painted a bleak picture of the current state of hospice-related fraud.

“Fraud is a national problem, but it starts locally,” he said in a Los Angeles Times article. “Drive around certain neighborhoods in Los Angeles and you’ll pass what appear to be empty office buildings, which unbeknownst to neighbors could serve as hubs of criminal activity. There are more than 1,000 potentially fraudulent hospice operations identified in Los Angeles.”

To address the fraud CMS is seeing in the space, the agency plans to rely on its Fraud Defense Operations Center.

“This spring, we rolled out a war room — the Fraud Defense Operations Center — a team of experts from across the agency using artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge technology to identify fraudulent activity before we pay the bills,” Oz told the Los Angeles Times.

Companies like AccentCare, which offer both home health and hospice services, welcome CMS’s active approach to rooting out fraud.

“We hope it materializes,” Dr. Balu Natarajan, chief medical officer at AccentCare, told HHCN. “We, as an institution, have always believed that strong program integrity measures actually increase access to high-quality care, and as a consequence, we strongly support those efforts by Dr. Oz and his team to eliminate fraud in hospice. It’s always difficult to say whether these things will happen. All signs [point to] this taking place. We are definitely looking forward to the day that that happens.”

AccentCare is a Dallas, Texas-based company that offers hospice, home health, personal care and palliative care. The company employs 30,000 team members and operates over 250 locations across 32 states and Washington, serving more than 200,000 lives annually.

Similar to AccentCare, Elara Caring believes that this would be a step in the right direction.

“We fully support CMS’s efforts to crack down on fraud in hospice and home health,” an Elara Caring spokesperson told HHCN in an email. “Responsible enforcement protects patients and ensures taxpayer dollars are used appropriately. It also creates an opportunity to revisit flawed assumptions baked into recent CMS home health proposals — assumptions that, if left unaddressed, risk penalizing high-integrity providers. By embracing oversight and calling for smarter policy design, we can help shape a reimbursement framework that supports sustainable, high-quality care where patients need it most: at home.”

Elara Caring is one of the largest home-based care providers in the U.S. The Dallas-based company has roughly 200 locations across seven states and serves over 60,000 patients. The company’s service lines include home health, hospice, personal care, behavioral health and palliative care.

In order to tackle fraud, waste and abuse, Natarajan explained that CMS will need to look at all of the signs of potential fraudulent activity.

“They have to make sure that their methodology is not only the review of charts,” he said.

Ultimately, Natarajan believes that this is net-positive for all of home-based care.

“The care of geriatric patients, patients who are frail, who are elderly, who are severely ill, increasingly, that care has to take place outside of the hospital,” he said. “That includes personal care services, home health, palliative care and hospice. Any time there are bad actors in that post-acute space, patients, families, clients, the general public, lose trust in non-hospital settings. Anything that helps to restore the public’s trust in post-acute care is going to be helpful to providers that are committed to high-quality post-acute care.”

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Even without catching COVID, the pandemic may have quietly aged your brain

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 16:32:20 +0000

Even people who never caught Covid-19 may have aged mentally faster during the pandemic, according to new brain scan research. This large UK study shows how the stress, isolation, and upheaval of lockdowns may have aged our brains, especially in older adults, men, and disadvantaged individuals. While infection itself impacted some thinking skills, even those who stayed virus-free showed signs of accelerated brain aging—possibly reversible. The study highlights how major life disruptions, not just illness, can reshape our mental health.

Scientists just resurrected the 1918 “Spanish Flu” virus—here’s what they found

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 16:13:19 +0000

Scientists in Switzerland have cracked open a century-old viral mystery by decoding the genome of the 1918 influenza virus from a preserved Zurich patient. This ancient RNA revealed that the virus had already adapted to humans at the very start of the pandemic, carrying mutations that made it both more infectious and more immune-resistant. By pioneering a new method to recover fragile RNA from preserved tissue, researchers gained rare insights into how flu viruses evolve. The study not only revives the history of one of humanity's deadliest outbreaks but also arms us with critical knowledge to face future pandemics with smarter, science-based strategies.