Home care’s technology priorities sharpen around compliance, scheduling and billing

Home care providers are placing compliance, scheduling and financial workflows at the center of their technology investments, according to a new industry survey. The findings point to mounting reimbursement and regulatory pressure, while also highlighting opportunities for agencies to use data, automation and artificial intelligence to improve operations and demonstrate value.

Key takeaways

• EVV and compliance were the leading technology investment priority, cited by 63.9% of respondents.

• Scheduling ranked second at 44.7%, followed by billing and payroll at 38.9%.

• More than half of respondents reported negative effects from policy or reimbursement pressures.

• AI adoption is growing, but agencies are still evaluating how to apply it safely and effectively.

• Data reporting remains underused despite its potential to support value-based payment and financial planning.

Regulatory pressure is driving technology decisions

The 2026 Homecare Insights: Provider Voices Survey included more than 450 respondents. Some 52.1% said changes involving authorizations, denied or delayed claims, Medicaid rates, electronic visit verification (EVV) or documentation requirements had negatively affected their businesses during the previous year.

EVV and compliance emerged as the top technology investment priority for 63.9% of providers, repeating the previous year’s ranking. For small agencies, the implications extend beyond software selection. Accurate records support compliance reviews, claims submission and reimbursement analysis—areas where specialized bookkeeping, payroll and consulting guidance can help owners maintain reliable financial controls.

Scheduling and billing remain operational pressure points

Scheduling was identified as a priority by 44.7% of respondents, while 38.9% selected billing and payroll. These functions directly affect caregiver utilization, service continuity, claim accuracy and cash flow.

Technology can reduce manual work, but implementation should be paired with disciplined financial processes. Home care operators may benefit from reviewing payroll records, authorization data, billed visits and receivables together. Soriaga and Associates’ industry-focused accounting services, including bookkeeping, payroll support and fractional CFO guidance, are designed to help providers connect daily operations with financial performance.

AI is moving from experimentation toward practical use

Overall, 57.1% of providers said they were engaging with AI in some way. About 13.3% were actively using it, 12.8% had piloted or tested applications, and 31% were considering their options.

The most requested AI applications were filling shifts and building schedules, tracking compliance and issuing alerts, and processing claims or identifying billing exceptions. Current uses were more modest, led by documentation and note writing at 22.4% and back-office administration at 17.9%.

For agencies, automation should complement—not replace—human review. Clear controls are especially important for payroll, billing, tax preparation and cost report filing, where errors can create compliance and cash-flow consequences.

Data could strengthen value-based care strategies

The survey found that 42.2% of agencies were not using reporting-tool data to guide business decisions. Only about one in 10 reported using data to manage budgets or payment rates, even as more contracts connect reimbursement with outcomes.

Providers said they use data primarily for compliance, day-to-day efficiency, client care, caregiver retention and growth. Building stronger reporting practices can help owners understand margins by payer, service line or client population. It also can support more informed budgeting, tax planning and long-term decisions through a specialized accounting or fractional CFO relationship.

For small home care businesses in the Chicagoland area, the survey’s message is direct: technology investments should be evaluated not only for convenience, but also for their ability to protect reimbursement, improve workforce efficiency and produce dependable financial insight.

Sources

• Compliance, scheduling, billing emerge as home care providers’ top tech priorities: survey, McKnights Home Care.