The Research Institute for Home Care recently published updated state-specific issue briefs examining Florida's home health landscape. This research underscores the sector's critical role in serving Florida's senior population. The briefs, essential for HCAF's public policy initiatives, offer a comprehensive analysis of both patients and the workforce, bolstering advocacy efforts that champion home health's significance and economic contributions.

• Issue Brief: Florida's Home Health Patients & Workforce
• Issue Brief: Home Health Outcomes and Met Quality Measures

Home health providers across Florida play a pivotal role in serving a significant number of seniors grappling with chronic health conditions while contributing substantially to the state's employment growth. Medicare beneficiaries in Florida receive skilled nursing care and therapy services at home, either post-hospital discharge or for rehabilitation, administered by a multidisciplinary team comprising nurses, therapists, and medical social workers, facilitating essential post-acute care.

Key Findings

The following insights derive from 2022 data from the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Economic Impact

• Home health directly employs over 76,000 Floridians, generating a total of 117,414 jobs and contributing significantly to the state's labor income.
• Home health wages contribute $3.7 billion annually, with a total economic impact exceeding $5.9 billion.

Patient Population

• 251,863 Medicare beneficiaries in Florida utilize home health services.
• 83.2% of these patients have three or more chronic conditions.

Quality Measures

• Florida's home health agencies demonstrate superior performance in initiating care promptly, exceeding the national average.
• They consistently provide medication education to patients, meeting established national benchmarks.
• While flu vaccination rates are high, there's an opportunity for further improvement to align with the national average.

Patient Outcomes

• Home health services in Florida demonstrably improve patient self-care skills, surpassing national averages in bathing assistance.
• Medication adherence also shows improvement, exceeding national benchmarks.
• Mobility outcomes remain an area for focused improvement to ensure optimal patient well-being.

Florida's home health provider community is committed to delivering high-quality, personalized care to reduce hospital readmissions and enhance patient well-being. Building upon significant progress, ongoing efforts aim to refine services and address existing gaps to ensure optimal care delivery for all beneficiaries. Through continued collaboration and advocacy, Florida's home health sector is well-positioned to meet the evolving needs of the state's aging population, potentially setting a national standard for excellence in home-based care.