Home health care: who's where?

Referrals to two home health agencies, one public and one private, were examined over a one-year period (n = 290). Clients in the public agency required greater frequency of visits, more nursing services, and care for a longer period of time than did those in the private agency. The public agency served a larger proportion of indigent and Medicaid clients. Increased service delivery with a decreased financial base may forebode an unhealthy future for traditional public home health agencies.