Medibank announces acquisition of Home Support Services

Adelaide will become the headquarters of Medibank’s home healthcare operations following the announcement of its acquisition of South Australian business, Home Support Services (HSS).

HSS is one of Australia’s leading national providers of in home care, delivering more than 100,000 occasions of care every year to patients.

HSS are a significant provider for the South Australia Government’s Community Care program which supports South Australians to avoid unnecessary hospitalisation.

Medibank Chief Executive Officer, Craig Drummond said that Medibank is expanding its investment in healthcare services providing customers with greater choice and flexibility, by offering health services in the comfort and familiar surroundings of home, when their treating doctor thinks it is appropriate.

“The acquisition of HSS will expand Medibank’s ability to deliver in home health services in South Australia and nationally, giving eligible Medibank customers more choice to receive care where they want it,” Mr Drummond said.

“Medibank is trialling in home healthcare for chemotherapy, palliative care, and dialysis and these trials are already delivering positive results for customers. HSS will expedite the expansion of our in home care, giving us expertise and a national footprint.”

Both Medibank and HSS have been working to ensure customers receive the care they deserve in the comfort of their own home.

“HSS pioneered acute hospital care in the home and has been providing an innovative suite of home care solutions to patients for over 30 years.

“Medibank’s acquisition of HSS is good news for South Australia, for patient healthcare, and for customer choice.

“SA Health see the huge opportunity to have more people treated at home, and we want to be part of the shift out of hospital by investing in home care,” Mr Drummond said.

HSS has 286 employees including 139 nurses, and a large network of 1,600 contractors across the country which will help to grow Medibank’s already significant investment in 1,300 health professionals, including nurses, physios and allied health professionals. Medibank will consolidate HSS from 1 September 2018.

HSS deliver a wide range of healthcare services including hospital in the home, chemotherapy in the home, rehab in the home, home care packages, and chronic disease management programs nationally.