Homecare or Home Care: Definitions and Scope
Homecare and home care refer to nonmedical or medical support services delivered in a person's residence, including assistance with daily living, skilled nursing, and therapy. The global home care market was valued at approximately $300 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach over $500 billion by 2030, driven by aging populations and chronic disease prevalence. Leading providers include Amedisys, LHC Group, and Bayada Home Health Care, which operate across the United States and several international markets.
In the U.S., the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) tracks home health agencies and sets conditions of participation, while the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that home health aide employment is among the fastest-growing occupations. The distinction between homecare (often nonmedical) and home care (which can include skilled clinical services) affects reimbursement, regulation, and staffing requirements. For a detailed overview of CMS home health conditions of participation, see the official agency page.
Market Leaders, Revenue, and Service Models
Amedisys reported total revenue of approximately $2.5 billion for the fiscal year ending 2023, while LHC Group reported comparable revenue in the same period, reflecting the scale of the U.S. home health sector. Major service models include skilled home health, hospice, personal care, and companion services, with agencies often combining Medicare-certified skilled care with private-pay nonmedical support. Companies such as BrightStar Care and Senior Helpers franchise networks that blend medical and nonmedical home care across multiple states.
Technology platforms increasingly support home care operations, with electronic visit verification, telehealth integration, and workforce management tools becoming standard. For insights on how large home health agencies use data and technology, see this Forbes overview of home care trends.
Regulation, Reimbursement, and Quality Metrics
Home care agencies that bill Medicare must meet CMS conditions of participation, including comprehensive assessments, care planning, and outcome reporting via the Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS). The CMS Star Ratings system evaluates home health agencies on measures such as hospital readmission rates, improvement in mobility, and medication management, with top-rated agencies publicly listed on Medicare.gov. State licensing boards also regulate nonmedical home care providers, with requirements varying by jurisdiction.
For investors and analysts, home care companies trade on U.S. exchanges and file quarterly and annual reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The SEC EDGAR system provides access to company filings, including risk factors related to reimbursement policy changes, labor shortages, and regulatory compliance. For a current example of SEC filings from a major home health company, see the SEC EDGAR search page.