Why Everything Is Changing in Therapy — and You Should Too

Gravity Healthcare Hacks | Episode 64

The therapy landscape is shifting—again—and many senior living and skilled nursing operators are still relying on rehab strategies that no longer work.

In this episode of Gravity Healthcare Hacks, Melissa Brown is joined by Carly Chronister, Lead Consultant of Therapy Services at Gravity, to break down what’s really changing in therapy and why now is the time to reassess your approach.

They explore how the transition to PDPM fundamentally altered the role of therapy, why contract therapy models are struggling to deliver meaningful value in today’s reimbursement environment, and how PDPM Medicaid has further reshaped incentives—often in ways operators didn’t anticipate.

This conversation goes beyond theory and gets into what operators should actually be watching inside their buildings, including therapy minutes, outcomes, Section GG accuracy, nursing involvement, and where risk is quietly building under the surface.

If you’re questioning whether your current rehab strategy is still serving your residents—or your organization—this episode will help you understand what to look for, what’s changed, and what to rethink moving forward.

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As home health agencies prepare for 2026, CMS is turning up the heat on fraud, compliance, and enforcement—and the consequences are more serious than ever.

In this episode of Gravity Healthcare Hacks, host Melissa Brown, COO of Gravity Healthcare Consulting, is joined by Devin Kassi, VP of Home Health Operations, for a critical follow-up discussion on the Home Health Final Rule. This time, they dive deep into Medicare’s expanded authority around fraud investigations, retroactive payment recoupment, and why even unintentional missteps can put agencies at risk.

Melissa and Devin unpack:

• How CMS is redefining and enforcing fraud
• Why documentation errors can trigger massive repayment demands
• The growing importance of homebound status documentation
• How weak processes, outdated technology, and lack of education create dangerous blind spots
• What agencies must do now to protect themselves and remain viable

This conversation is a must-listen for home health leaders—especially smaller and single-location agencies—who want to understand what’s coming and how to adapt before it’s too late.

Because in today’s regulatory environment, doing nothing is the biggest risk of all.

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The 2026 Home Health Final Rule is late—but the impact is already here. In this episode, Melissa Brown (COO) sits down with Devin Kassi, Gravity’s VP of Home Health Operations, to break down what agencies should be doing right now to prepare for payment cuts, VBP changes, and rising operational demands.

Together they unpack:

• What a 3–6% payment reduction really means for agency sustainability
• Why your EMR might be costing you more than it’s saving you
• How AI-driven clean claims, documentation support, and automated intake can reduce labor needs and boost margins
• The organizational restructuring every agency should be evaluating before 2026
• How to prepare for the proposed Value-Based Purchasing changes—especially new OASIS measures for bathing and dressing
• Why recurring training, ongoing Oasis auditing, and external quality support are now essential
• Practical, actionable steps to future-proof your operations before the Final Rule arrives

This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation designed to give home health leaders a roadmap for navigating reimbursement cuts without compromising care or burning out their teams.

Because in today’s environment, survival isn't about what you know—it's about how fast you can adapt.

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