With the recent news of Gentiva Health Services buying Odyssey Healthcare (one of the largest hospice providers in the nation), one has to wonder if the home health care and hospice industry will eventually go the way of Walmart: meaning major corporations rooting out smaller organizations and creating less competition in the marketplace.  Those of us in the home care industry have for years questioned whether or not the “mom and pop” agencies could exist in the shadow of the nationally recognized providers with multiple locations and/or franchises spread throughout the country.  So far, they have been able to hold their own despite the industry’s continued growth and across-the-board consolidation.  In addition to threats from industry giants, Mom and Pop agencies are facing devastating cutbacks in Medicare, and other harmful legislation, that expose them to an exponentially larger blow than the big boys. 

As the post-acute care industry evolves, with its myriad of services along the continuum of care, one wonders, how much longer can smaller agencies survive in the midst of the one-stop-shops?  If home grown care providers do become a thing of the past, is it just “business” when your business is designed to help and not hurt?  Just a question, curious to see what you think.  Please weigh in with your comments.