In Traditional Medicare, Modest Growth In The Home Care Workforce Largely Driven By Nurse Practitioners

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Medical Workforce Studies
• Geriatric Care

Background:

• Home-based medical care is crucial for traditional (fee-for-service) Medicare beneficiaries.
• Limited data exists on the characteristics and trends of this healthcare workforce.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the trends in the traditional Medicare home care provider workforce from 2012 to 2016.
• To identify the types of providers and their participation levels in home-based care.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of Medicare provider data from 2012 to 2016.
• Tracking the number of participating providers and their annual home visits.
• Differentiating provider types, including physicians and nurse practitioners.

Main Results:

• The total number of traditional Medicare home care providers increased from approximately 14,100 to 16,600.
• Annual provider turnover was significant, with about 4,000 joining/reentering and 3,000 leaving/pausing.
• Physician participation remained low (0.7% providing >=50 visits), while the number of home-visiting nurse practitioners nearly doubled with increased visit frequency.

Conclusions:

• The home-based care workforce for traditional Medicare beneficiaries experienced modest growth, primarily due to increased nurse practitioner involvement.
• Despite growth, overall provider participation remains low, suggesting a need for further interventions.
• Ensuring an adequate and stable home care workforce may require additional supportive measures.