actuarialhome-healthacute-utilizationPDGMMedicare
Association Between Early Home Health Visit Intensity and 30-Day Acute Utilization Among Medicare Fee-for-Service Beneficiaries
Rajesh Munjuluri, ASA, MAAA
February 22, 2026
This study evaluates the association between early therapy and nursing visit intensity and 30-day acute utilization following home health admission in a large Medicare fee-for-service cohort of 13,065,775 admissions from 2022 to 2025. Higher early therapy intensity was associated with 13% lower odds of composite acute utilization, with slightly stronger effects among patients with high functional impairment. Early nursing intensity showed a modest positive association with acute utilization, likely reflecting underlying medical complexity rather than a causal relationship. Findings support the importance of early functional stabilization strategies within home health practice.