Home health quality outcomes. Fee-for-service versus health maintenance organization enrollees.

Quality outcomes were compared between home health patients enrolled in the traditional Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) program versus a health maintenance organization (HMO) with a Medicare cost contract with the federal government. The quality outcome scores were similar between the two patient groups. However, other home health research showed superior quality outcomes for patients enrolled in the traditional Medicare FFS program versus an HMO with a risk contract with the federal government. Before signing contracts with HMOs, home health administrators will want to identify the type of Medicare contract the HMO has with the federal government.