Homefront Health Care, which serves 450 patients, will close Friday

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Homefront Health Care, a nonprofit provider of Medicaid services to more than 450 home-bound patients in Rhode Island, told employees Thursday evening that it will close by the end of business Friday.

Late Thursday, it was announced that all patients and staff would transfer to Pawtucket-based home-care provider Home Health and Hospice Care of Nursing Placement. The move was part of an agreement with a court-appointed special master receiver for Homefront and requires court approval. “All staff have been reassured and all patients will be notified that there will be continuity of services provided without interruption,” said Nicholas Oliver, executive director of the Rhode Island Partnership for Home Care, a trade association.

Joseph Wendelken, a state Department of Health spokesman, said the closing was not prompted by any health department action. “It was because of decisions made in bankruptcy court and by Homefront Health Care’s court-appointed receiver,” he said.

Oliver called the loss of Homefront the latest closure caused by Medicaid reimbursement rates too low to sustain operations and meet payroll.

Read more: http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20170810/homefront-health-care-which-serves-450-patients-will-close-friday