Judah Ronch in the Baltimore Business Journal

October 12 - 2007

Firms flood state with plans to offer in-home health care

Baltimore Business Journal - by Sue Schultz Staff

Nicholas Griner | Staff

Home Health Care Services’ Tamira Davis walks with Dr. Samuel Katzoff.

Earlier this month, 35 companies told the Maryland Health Care Commission that they would like to offer home health care to residents of Baltimore County -- nearly twice as many firms as were providing similar services in the county three years ago.

The flood of interest in home health care in Baltimore County comes weeks after 22 companies filed applications with the state to offer in-home health care in Montgomery County. The state's health care commission, which regulates this industry in Maryland, also is opening up Frederick County to more home health care agencies that want to do business there.

The state's invitation to apply for home health care licensure in Baltimore, Montgomery and Frederick counties comes as the federal Centers for Medicare and Medcaid Services estimates that the home health care industry will grow by about 11 percent each year until 2015.

Fueled by an aging baby boomer population that is requiring more health care and wants to receive those services from the comforts of home, the home health care industry is on the cusp of another growth spurt, industry experts say. By 2010, an additional 1,178 residents in Montgomery County, 671 residents in Baltimore County and 445 residents in Frederick County will need in-home health care, according to a report released by the state's health care commission in March.

In 2004, there were 22 home health care agencies in Baltimore County, 19 companies in Montgomery County and nine in Frederick County, according to state data.

"It's taken awhile for the home health care industry to see the impact," said Judah Ronch, a professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County's Erickson School who studies long-term care. "I think they are beginning to see it."

Margie Pannell, an administrator for Home Health Care Services LLC, a Florida-based agency that provides service in Baltimore and Howard counties, said her business is growing here. Over the last year, the demand for services has increased by more than 50 percent, prompting the company to hire more aides for the region, Pannell said.

Back To List