Home Care `Readiness' for Managed Care: A Survey of Organizational Systems of Home Care Agencies

Abstract

Survival in the home care market will be directly related to agency readiness to function in a managed care environment. Are current capabilities and planned initiatives in responding to increased utilization of managed care enough to ensure survival in the next decade of health care? The home care industry is well aware of changes needed and is moving rapidly to achieve the readiness in operations required. Factors were identified as predictors of readiness such as accreditation and size. This study provides a "snap shot" of home care readiness for managed care, documenting current system capabilities and plans for organizational development of these capabilities.