The Agency Description section includes some of the information found in the At-A-Glance section as well as additional information on the types of care available through home health agencies.

Accreditation (Data Source: CMS HH Provider Data: through 10/23/2024)

This category shows whether a home health agency has applied for and received accreditation from a national organization. The accrediting organizations evaluate home health agencies to ensure that they meet official regulatory requirements and quality of care standards. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)-approved accreditation organizations include the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC), Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP), and Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (The Joint Commission).

Certification and licensure (Data Source: CMS HH Provider Data: through 10/23/2024)

California requires a state license to operate a home health agency. This category shows which home health agencies also are certified by CMS. For those agencies showing state licensure-only, please check the accreditation category above. CMS approves and accepts certain national organizations’ accreditation in place of a CMS certification because the accrediting organization ensures that the home health agency meets the federal conditions of certification.

Payor source (Data Source: CMS HH Provider Data: through 10/23/2024)

This category shows the type of federal payors accepted by the hospice agency. Some agencies also accept other forms of payment such as private insurance, private pay, or veteran’s health benefits. Please contact the agency to learn about other forms of payment accepted.

Types of services offered (Data Source: CMS HH Provider Data: through 10/23/2024)

Home health agencies can supply one or more types of care to patients. Medically necessary services (as ordered by your healthcare provider) may or may not be covered (partially or in full) by your insurance.

• Nursing care is provided by either a registered nurse or licensed vocational/practical nurse, who works under the supervision of a registered nurse. Registered nurses manage, monitor, and evaluate a patient’s condition. Nurses teach the patient and the patient’s caregiver the best ways to care for the patient. For example, they may teach about medications and what to eat and not eat. Nurses also provide medical treatments like wound care. Nurses talk to the patient’s healthcare provider and other members of the home health team to create the best patient care plan.

• Physical therapy is prescribed by a doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant and provided by a physical therapist or assistant to select patients recovering from an injury or illness. They use techniques such as heat, light, exercise, and massage to improve or maintain the patient’s current abilities or slow their decline (such as walking, sitting in a chair, moving in/out of bed, etc.). This type of therapy improves patient strength and balance and helps keep patients safe by preventing falls. Physical therapists can also teach caregivers the best ways to care for the patient at home.

• Occupational therapy is prescribed by a doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant and provided by an cccupational therapist or assistant to select patients recovering from an injury or illness. Occupational therapy helps patients return to or slow the decline of common daily activities (like bathing, dressing, using the toilet, preparing meals, and housekeeping) after illness. Sometimes occupational therapists teach patients (and their caregivers) how to use special equipment to regain skills to perform self-care. Examples of special equipment include slide boards, button hooks, plate holders, and standing poles.

• Speech therapy is prescribed by a doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant and provided by a speech therapist to improve, maintain, or slow the decline of speech and language skills. Speech therapy can also include techniques to help with swallowing abilities. This therapy is used when there has been an illness or injury (such as throat cancer, stroke or other brain injury, or disease like Lou Gehrig’s) that changed a patient’s ability to speak or swallow. Speech therapists may use exercises and/or equipment (such as a mechanical device or a communication board) to train and/or help a person with speaking.

• Medical social services are prescribed by doctors, nurse practitioners, or physician assistants and provided by social workers to help patients and their caregivers with social and emotional concerns related to injury or illness. Services can include counseling or help finding supportive community resources such as legal aid, food, utility assistance, or long-term counseling.

• Home health aides help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and making a meal while a patient receives home health care.

This section provides details about measures that can inform home health care patients, their families, and others about the quality of care delivered by home health agencies and how the quality is measured. Some quality measures are risk-adjusted, which means that researchers use a statistical method that allows an accurate comparison of quality between agencies even though the severity of illnesses may vary among their patients.

In general, home health agencies should make sure that they are working with health care providers, patients, and families to manage the patients’ goals of care. They should also have systems in place to prevent harm to patients (e.g., falls, pressure injuries, infections) and have a process for ongoing quality improvement.

The goal for home health patients is to improve their health and maintain gains in their functional ability and ability to care for themselves.

CMS 5-Star quality rating (Data Source: CMS HH Provider Data: through 10/23/2024)

The CMS 5-star quality rating shows how a home health agency (with at least 20 complete episodes of care) compares to other agencies based on at least 5 of 7 measures of quality. A 4- or 5-star rating means that the agency performed better than other agencies on the measured care practices and outcomes.

A 1- or 2-star rating means that the agency’s performance was below the average of other agencies.  Across the country, most agencies fall “in the middle” with 3 or 3½ stars. For more information, see the CMS website.

Managing Daily Activities

Percentage of patients who got better at walking or moving around(Data Source: CMS HH Provider Data: 7/1/2022 through 6/30/2023)

This risk-adjusted measure shows the percentage of patients who improved their ability to walk or move around. Some patients may need help from a person or equipment (like a cane or wheelchair) to move around safely. The home health team evaluates patients’ needs and teaches patients how to use any special devices or equipment that will help increase their ability to perform some activities without help.

Getting better at walking or moving around in a wheelchair may be a sign that they’re making progress and meeting the goals of the plan of care. In order to be as independent as possible, the home health team and caregivers should encourage patients to walk, move around, and do as much as they can perform safely by themselves, even if it takes more time to finish a task.  This measure was included in the quality star rating calculation. Higher percentages are better.

Percentage of patients who got better at getting in and out of bed (Data Source: CMS HH Provider Data: 7/1/2022 through 6/30/2023)

This risk-adjusted measure shows the percentage of patients who improved their ability to get in and out of bed. A patient’s ability to get in and out of bed independently can be the first step before doing many other things like getting dressed or getting to the toilet.  Patients who can get in and out of bed with little help may be more independent, feel better about themselves, stay more active, and rely less on caregivers once home health ends. Patients should be encouraged to do as much as they can for themselves. The home health team evaluates patients’ needs for equipment or special devices. The team teaches patients how to use any special devices or equipment that may increase their ability to get in and out of bed without help. This measure was included in the quality star rating calculation. Higher percentages are better.

Percentage of patients who got better at bathing bathing (Data Source: CMS HH Provider Data: 7/1/2022 through 6/30/2023)

This risk-adjusted measure shows the percentage of patients who improved their ability to bathe. Being able to bathe is an important factor in patients’ ability to be more independent, stay clean, stay healthy, and feel good about themselves. The ability to bathe requires the patient to have certain physical abilities to take a bath or shower. Some patients will require special equipment or physical help from home health team member(s), such as home health aides, physical therapists, and/or occupational therapists. Getting better at bathing may mean that the patient needs less assistance to bathe or that the patient is taught to use assistive equipment to bathe independently. Both can be signs that the patient is making progress and meeting the goals of their plan of care. This measure was included in the quality star rating calculation. Higher percentages are better.

Percentage of patients whose functional abilities were assessed at admission and discharge and had functional goals included in their care plan (Data Source: CMS HH Provider Data: 7/1/2022 through 6/30/2023)

This measure shows the percentage of patients whose home health team completed a functional assessment at both admission and discharge and made a care plan at admission. A patient’s ability to move around safely or to care for self are important aspects of their health and well-being. A key responsibility for the home health team is to assess a patient’s functional status and set up a care plan that addresses the patient’s needs with the goal of improving (or at least maintaining) their functional status. Higher percentages are better.

Treating Symptoms

Percentage of patients whose breathing improved (Data Source: CMS HH Provider Data: 7/1/2022 through 6/30/2023)

This risk-adjusted measure shows the percentage of patients with improved breathing–meaning patients had less shortness of breath. Shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing, is uncomfortable. Many patients with heart or lung problems have shortness of breath because they can’t get enough oxygen to their lungs. Shortness of breath is associated with breathing faster than normal and feeling like there isn’t enough air. This can also make patients anxious, make them tire easily and unable to do normal activities. The home health team, in discussion with the healthcare provider, can check the patient’s breathing and teach them ways that may help make breathing easier and more efficient. This measure was included in the quality star rating calculation. Higher percentages are better.

Percentage of patients who have new or worsened pressure ulcers/pressure injuries (Data Source: CMS HH Provider Data: 7/1/2022 through 6/30/2023)

Pressure ulcers/injuries, sometimes known as bed sores, are areas of damaged skin caused by long-term pressure. Pressure ulcers/injuries can have either intact skin or open ulcers. They are painful and are prone to other complications, like infections. This measure shows the percentage of home health episodes where a patient developed new pressure ulcers or whose existing pressure ulcers got worse during the episode. Home health agencies can help to prevent or treat pressure ulcers by: frequently changing the patient’s position; ensuring good nutrition; using specialized beds or bedding, such as pillows or wedges, to reduce pressure on the skin; and avoiding dragging or sliding patients during lifting and turning. This measure was included in the quality star rating calculation. Lower percentages are better.

Preventing Harm

Percentage of patients whose care began in a timely manner (Data Source: CMS HH Provider Data: 7/1/2022 through 6/30/2023)

It’s important for patients to get the home health care they need and when they need it. If home health care is delayed, the patient’s condition could get worse. This measure shows the percentage of patients whose home health care began when they needed it (on the date the doctor ordered, or if no start date was indicated, within 2 days after the agency was notified of the order, or within 2 days of the patient coming home from the hospital or other facility). This measure was included in the quality star rating calculation. Higher percentages are better.

Percentage of patients who got better at taking their medications correctly by mouth (Data Source: CMS HH Provider Data: 7/1/2022 through 6/30/2023)

For medications/drugs to work properly, they need to be taken the right way. Taking medications/drugs the wrong way can keep them from working properly and could cause serious harm including death. The home health team can help teach patients how to take medications the right way and safely. This risk-adjusted measure shows how often the home health team helped patients get better at taking their medications the right way (including prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and herbal supplements). The measure includes only medications the patient takes by mouth. Higher percentages are better.

Percentage of patients who had their medications reviewed by the home health team and made doctor-ordered changes in a timely manner. (Data Source: CMS HH Provider Data: 7/1/2022 through 6/30/2023)

This measure shows the percentage of patients who had medications reviewed, with necessary changes made, in a timely manner. Performing a drug/medication review can help reduce adverse drug events (ADEs) by identifying drug/medication errors before an ADE can occur. Home health agencies can help to prevent ADEs by: educating staff on how to conduct reviews and identify risks and problems, as well as how to notice medication issues; implementing a system to ensure that each patient’s medication use is evaluated when home health starts and on a continuing basis; identifying and acting upon risks and problems in a timely manner; promptly communicating medication risks and problems to the patient’s physician; and implementing their recommended actions. Higher percentages are better.

Percentage of home health patients who experienced one or more falls with major injury (Data Source: CMS HH Provider Data: 7/1/2022 through 6/30/2023)

Some patients recovering at home from an injury or illness are at risk for falls. Home health teams should work to keep patients safe from falls because falls may result in major injuries, result in reduced ability to function and independence or urgent, unplanned hospital care.

This measure shows the percentage of patients who experienced a fall resulting in a major injury.  Some home health patients may experience a major fall even if they’re getting safe care. However, some major falls may be avoided if the home health team is doing a good job of teaching patients and caregivers on the best way to reduce the risk of falls.  Lower percentages are better.

Preventing Unplanned Hospital Care

Overall home health agency rating for preventing hospital visits during or within 31 days after receiving home health care.

CLTCC created this overall measure to show how well a home health agency does with providing appropriate care to their patients—care that keeps their patients out of the hospital during their home health care and up to 31 days after the care ends.

This CLTCC measure combines information from two risk-standardized measures reported on this website to make one summary measure:

1. Percentage of patients who had to be admitted to the hospital for a potentially preventable reason while receiving home health care.
2. Percentage of patients who remained at home after being discharged from home health care.

Icon rating scale: There are 5 possible ratings: superior, above average, average, below average, poor. Superior means the home health agency scored well above average compared to other agencies in California and poor means they scored far below average compared to other agencies in California. The “not rated” icon indicates there was not enough data to decide.)

Percentage of patients who had to be admitted to the hospital for a potentially preventable reason while receiving home health care (Data Source: CMS HH Provider Data: 7/1/2022 through 6/30/2023)

This measure shows the percentage of patients under the care of a home health agency who went to the hospital for a condition that might have been prevented through home health care (after adjusting for differences in patient health status).  A home health team can reduce the number of potentially preventable hospital stays by doing a good job checking the patient at each visit to find problems early and doing their best to prevent complications. Lower percentages are better.

Icon rating scale: Superior, above average, average, below average, poor. Superior means the home health agency scored well above average compared to other agencies in California and poor means they scored far below average compared to other agencies in California. The “not rated” icon indicates there was insufficient data to decide.

Percentage of patients who remained at home after being discharged from home health (Data Source: CMS HH Provider Data: 1/1/2021 through 12/31/2022)

Returning to the community is an important goal for most home health patients and their families.  Home health agencies can improve the successful patient discharge-to-community rate by providing: rehabilitation strategies to improve functional ability; discharge planning and care coordination; patient and family education; and solutions to barriers a patient may face in the community. This measure shows how often eligible patients stayed in the community or at home in the 31 days after discharge from home health (after adjusting for differences in patient health status.) Higher percentages are better.

Icon rating scale: Superior, above average, average, below average, poor. Superior means the home health agency scored well above average compared to other agencies in California and poor means they scored far below average compared to other agencies in California. The “not rated” icon indicates there was insufficient data to decide.

Percentage of patients who were re-admitted to the hospital for a potentially preventable condition after discharge from home health (Data Source:  CMS HH Provider Data: 7/1/2020 through 12/31/2022)

Good home health care can reduce the number of potentially preventable hospital readmissions within 30 days of discharge from home health by: doing its best to prevent complications; providing clear home health discharge instructions to patients; and helping patients make a smooth transition to community-based providers. Lower percentages are better.

The Home Health Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HH-CAHPS^®) is a national survey that asks patients about their recent experiences with a Medicare-certified home health agency. The results help consumers compare home health agencies on experience of care topics that are important to consumers.

These ratings are adjusted to account for the complexity of care for all patients to allow consumers to compare different home health agencies based on the same overall type of patient.

CMS 5-Star patient survey rating (Data Source: CMS HHCAHPS Provider Data: 4/1/2023 through 3/31/2024)

This patient survey star rating summarizes patient responses to 18 questions about their experience with the home health team. A 4- or 5-star rating means that the agency performed better than other agencies across the surveyed experiences of care.  A 1- or 2-star rating means that the agency’s performance was below the averages of other agencies.

Star ratings are shown only for home health agencies that have at least 40 home health patient surveys completed during the reporting period. For home health agencies with fewer than 40 completed surveys, the individual HHCAHP measure scores are still reported. For those home health agencies with fewer than 40 surveys completed, use the scores with caution as the number of surveys may be too low to accurately tell how an agency is doing.

Percentage of patients who gave their home health agency a rating of 9 or 10 (Data Source: CMS HHCAHPS Provider Data: 4/1/2023 through 3/31/2024)

Patients who used home health services during the current reporting period answered a question that asked for an overall rating of the home health care services. Ratings were on a scale from 0 to 10: “0” means “worst home health care possible” and “10” means “best home health care possible”. This measure shows the percentage of patient respondents who gave their agency a 9 or 10 on a scale of 0 (lowest) to 10 (highest).

Percentage of patients who would definitely recommend the home health agency to friends and family (Data Source: CMS HHCAHPS Provider Data: 4/1/2023 through 3/31/2024)

This measure shows only the percentage of patient respondents who would definitely recommend the home health agency to others. Answer choices included: definitely no, probably no, probably yes, definitely yes.

Percentage of patients who reported that their team always gave care in a professional way (Data Source: CMS HHCAHPS Provider Data: 4/1/2023 through 3/31/2024)

This measure is an overall (composite) measure of 4 survey questions about the care received by patient respondents. It shows the percentage of patients who reported that their home health team always gave care in a professional way (answer choices included: always, usually, sometimes, or never). “Gave care in a professional way” means that:

• There were no problems with the home health care
• Providers were always gentle
• Providers were always respectful
• Providers were always up-to-date about the patient’s treatment

Percentage of patients who reported that their team always communicated well with them (Data Source: CMS HHCAHPS Provider Data: 4/1/2023 through 3/31/2024)

This measure is an overall (composite) measure of 6 survey questions about the communication between the home health team and their patients. This measure shows the percentage of patient respondents who said the home health team always communicated well during the current reporting period.  “Communicated well” means that the home health agency did all of the following:

• Explained services before giving them
• Gave advice promptly
• Always said when staff would arrive
• Always explained things clearly
• Always listened carefully

Percentage of patients who reported that their team discussed medicines, pain, and home safety with them (Data Source: CMS HHCAHPS Provider Data: 4/1/2023 through 3/31/2024)

This measure is an overall (composite) measure of 7 survey questions about specific care provided by the home health team. It shows the percentage of patient respondents who said the home health team discussed medicines, pain, and home safety with them.