While home health referrals have doubled year over year from 2022, referral rejections rates are at an "all-time high," according to a July 25 WellSky news release about the company's "evolution of care" report, which noted referrals have surpassed pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels.
"With higher demand for post-acute care services, acute providers are struggling to secure timely placements, leading to increased referrals sent per patient," according to the release. "HHAs are also experiencing challenges in accommodating the rising volume of referrals, with rejection rates increasing by 40 percent."
The report noted that the average length of inpatient hospital stays has reduced, but still remains higher than before the pandemic. To compound the issue, longer stays not only increase hospital costs but can also lead to lower patient satisfaction due to longer wait times.