Home health utilization was slightly lower among Medicare Advantage (MA) beneficiaries in 2021 compared to those who had traditional fee-for-service plans, according to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission’s (MedPAC) June 2025 report to Congress. 
 
The report, which was released on June 12, used OASIS and MA home health encounter data to explore home health utilization rates and visits among MA and traditonal beneficiaries.  
 
Notably, the proportion of MA versus traditional beneficiaries who utilized home health services shifted among those who had been hospitalized. A higher percentage of MA patients received home health care after hospitalization than traditional beneficiaries. The MedPAC report notes that this may suggest MA plans authorize home health care for patients that would otherwise be placed in costlier post-acute settings like skilled nursing facilities. 
 
MA enrollment also correlated with fewer average visits per beneficiary per year, regardless of previous hospitalizations. MA beneficiaries received an average of 18.2 visits, with traditional patients averaging 20.4 visits.