South Carolina Home Care & Hospice Association

01/14/2026

📢 Home Medical Equipment Industry Facing Major Strain

At a recent Congressional hearing, *AAHomecare CEO Tom Ryan warned that about 37% of HME suppliers have gone out of business due to unsustainable Medicare reimbursement and competitive bidding impacts.

This loss of suppliers puts Medicare patients — especially those needing oxygen, mobility devices, and other essential home equipment — at risk of reduced access and longer wait times.

Ryan urged Congress to support legislation that would improve reimbursement and protect access to critical care technology. 📦🩺

Ensuring sustainable policy and stronger reimbursement structures is essential to keep patients equipped and independent at home.

🔗 https://hme-business.com/aahomecare-ceo-to-congressional-subcommittee-we-believe-37-of-the-industry-has-gone-out-of-business/

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Tom Ryan, the president/CEO of the American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare), urged members of Congress to protect Medicare beneficiaries’ access to durable medical equipment (DME) during a three-hour meeting of the Energy and Commerce’s health subcommittee on Jan. 8. About 30 members of Co...

01/13/2026

🧡 Hospice Trends to Watch in 2026

What’s ahead for hospice care this year? Hospice News highlights five major trends shaping the future of the industry — from renewed M&A activity and growing use of AI to stronger support for family caregivers and changing conversations around end-of-life care.

These shifts signal important opportunities for providers focused on innovation, efficiency, and compassionate care.
📖 Read the full article https://hospicenews.com/2026/01/12/5-hospice-trends-to-watch-in-2026/

Hospice leaders will need to keep their eyes on five key trends in the new year when it comes to compliance, business operations, finance and perceptions

01/12/2026

🔍 2026 Home Care Forecast: What Industry Leaders Are Saying

Nine home care executives share insights on the most pressing challenges shaping the industry in 2026 — including workforce constraints, reimbursement pressures, and the growing role of technology and automation.

Despite ongoing hurdles, leaders see opportunity in innovation, collaboration, and smarter operational models to sustain and strengthen care delivered at home.

👉 Read the full forecast from Home Health Care News:
https://ow.ly/5xIF50XVGg0

In 2026, emerging tools and staffing strategies may help home care providers ease the operational and labor bottlenecks limiting growth – but success will

01/07/2026

CMS has announced the launch of the Long-term Enhanced ACO Design (LEAD) Model, a 10-year accountable care organization payment model that will begin in 2027.

The LEAD Model is designed to:
• Improve care coordination for beneficiaries with complex needs
• Support stronger collaboration across providers, including hospice and palliative care
• Build on lessons learned from ACO REACH while expanding opportunities for rural and independent practices

As CMS continues to evolve value-based payment strategies, the LEAD Model represents a significant step toward more integrated, patient-centered care across the continuum.

🔗 Read more: https://hospicenews.com/2026/01/06/cms-launches-new-lead-model/

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has launched a new Accountable Care Organization-focused (ACO) payment model demonstration.

01/06/2026

Family caregivers are doing incredible work — but many aren’t given the support or training they need to succeed. 💙 A former ICU and home health nurse says healthcare providers should require family caregiver education to help families confidently manage complex care at home.

👉 With better education, caregivers can feel more prepared, reduce stress, and improve outcomes for loved ones. This is about respecting caregivers as essential members of the care team, not just unpaid helpers.

Read more --> https://ow.ly/XXY950XSttA

A former intensive care and home health nurse, Lana Wilhelm, has leveraged her experience as both a nurse and a family caregiver to found an organization

01/05/2026

Stand out in 2026 with the SCHCHA Member Directory.

The SCHHA Member Directory is a trusted resource for families, referral partners, and those seeking home care, home health, and hospice providers across South Carolina.

🔹 Expanded visibility in the counties you serve
🔹 Increased exposure to key referral sources
🔹 A cost-effective way to strengthen your digital presence

Upgrade your listing for 2026 and ensure your agency is easy to find where it matters most.

👉 Learn more and upgrade today https://schchadirectory.org/listing/ or email info@ahhcnc.org for more details.

12/31/2025

🎉 Happy New Year from SCHCHA! 🎉
As we begin a new year, the South Carolina Home Care & Hospice Association extends our sincere appreciation to our members and the dedicated home care, home health, and hospice professionals across our state. Your compassion, commitment, and leadership make it possible for patients and families to receive high-quality care where they need it most—at home.

Thank you for all you do every day. We are proud to support you and look forward to continuing our work together in the year ahead.
💙

12/24/2025

🎄✨ Merry Christmas Eve, everyone! 🎁❤️ As we gather around the tree adorned with twinkling lights, let’s embrace the warmth of family, the joy of giving, and the magic of this season. May your hearts be filled with love and laughter tonight! Wishing you all a holiday wrapped in peace and happiness! 🌟🎶

12/19/2025

📊 Family Caregiving Looks Different Across Demographics

A recent Hospice News survey shows that perceptions of caregiving responsibilities differ significantly across age, gender, and geographic lines — with societal expectations still leaning on daughters and closest siblings to shoulder the bulk of care duties. Clear communication, early planning, and better support systems can help families navigate these roles more fairly and reduce stress for caregivers.

Understanding these patterns helps us better target resources and support for family caregivers who are an essential part of long-term care.

Read more: https://hospicenews.com/2025/12/12/perceptions-of-family-caregiving-change-across-demographic-lines/

Family caregiver burden may be falling heavier on the shoulders of certain demographic groups compared to others, a new survey has found. Perceptions of

12/17/2025

📌 Protecting Wage and Hour Rights for Home Care Workers

A recent News From The States article highlights a critical policy debate impacting home care workers nationwide. Federal actions could roll back long-standing minimum wage and overtime protections for millions of caregivers, reintroducing exemptions that would allow lower pay and no overtime. This change threatens economic stability for workers and could worsen workforce shortages in a sector that supports nearly 10 million older adults and people with disabilities.

Professionals across healthcare policy, labor rights, and workforce development are watching this issue closely as caregivers and advocates push back and call for robust protections that reflect the value of their work.
Read more: https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/home-care-workers-are-losing-minimum-wage-protections-and-fighting-back

12/15/2025

🏥 Four Home Care Models Driving Healthcare Transformation

Home-based care is no longer a supplement to traditional care—it’s a strategic pillar of modern healthcare delivery. Modern Healthcare outlines four emerging home care models that are helping providers expand capacity, improve outcomes, and better align with value-based care goals.

These models demonstrate how innovation, technology, and interdisciplinary collaboration are enabling high-quality care to be delivered safely and effectively in the home—where patients prefer to be.

Read the full article: https://www.modernhealthcare.com/providers/mh-four-home-care-models/

Digital tools and evolving patient expectations are accelerating the shift from facility-based care to the home.