Home Health & Hospice Week

Don't risk long-term compliance for short-term gains in referrals. Once you've decided to put some resources into your marketing staff, be sure you're staying on the right side of the law. Home health agencies and hospices that have shied away from hiring dedicated marketing staff may think it's a smart move to put a toe in the  water by hiring outside marketing liaisons. But think again, industry experts urge. Steer clear of hiring independent contractors for marketing, advises Michael Ferris with Simione Consultants. Such relationships "are fraught with potential problems and historically have been an area of abuse," warns Chapel Hill, N.C.-based Ferris. Even if outside marketing contractors are on the up-and-up, they still aren't an ideal fit for your agency, Ferris contends. "Anyone who represents my agency should be my employee and under my control with a referral partner relationship that is owned by the agency," he says. "An [...]