Home health care: the pivotal link in the creation of a new health care delivery system.

Health care reform has challenged the home care industry to reemerge as the primary site for the delivery of health care, just as it was in the beginning of the 20th century. The factors driving the growth in this industry are discussed in this article, with an overview of what can be expected in a managed care environment. An analysis of the current marketplace and predictions for the expanded role of the home health care industry in the future are outlined.