Elara Caring Board Chair Predicts More Payer Buyouts in Hospice
In an interview with Hospice News, Elara Caring board chair Paul Kusserow discusses his return to home-based care after leading Amedisys through its $3.3 billion acquisition by Optum. Kusserow, now an operating partner at Ares Management, which owns roughly 60% of Elara Caring alongside co-investor DaVita's 40% stake, says consolidation among top home health and hospice players, including Amedisys, LHC Group, Gentiva, and Enhabit, has left remaining payers like CVS/Aetna and Elevance likely to pursue home-based care acquisitions. He notes Elara Caring operates in home health, hospice, and a smaller Medicaid-focused personal care business, and flags heightened industry scrutiny of fraud, waste, and abuse since his prior tenure. No specific transaction or regulatory action is announced.