The demand and intensity of home health services following prospective payment.

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was an increase in both the number and the intensity of home health referrals following the implementation of the Medicare Prospective Payment System (PPS). The study involved a retrospective review of one home health agency's activity logs and client records from a six-month period before the implementation of the PPS and a six-month period after the implementation of the PPS. Data gathered revealed a 22 percent increase in the number of referrals after the implementation of the PPS, as well as statistically significant increases in several of the intensity indicators used in this study.