Preferred partner strategy for independent home care agencies

By the time preference is visibly slipping
partner decision logic has already shifted.

If you’ve already completed the Preferred Partner Readiness Snapshot, this Blueprint is the next step: we turn your scores into a focused 90‑day plan to protect referrals, mix, and leverage with referral sources, ACOs, and plans.

On this 20‑minute call, we will:

  • Confirm fit and urgency based on what your Snapshot revealed.

  • Identify the 1–2 leverage leaks that make you easiest to replace.

  • Decide whether to move forward with the Preferred Partner Blueprint.

Not ready yet? Start with the free Preferred Partner Readiness Snapshot and bring your scores to the call.

Problem & Risk

Referral sources, ACOs, and funding channels are tightening benchmarks, shrinking preferred lists, and putting more dollars at risk in value‑based arrangements.When they narrow options, they don’t send a warning email. You just see:

  • fewer high‑risk referrals

  • weaker referral and payor mix

  • quiet margin squeeze

Most agencies only realize they were “easy to cut” after volume and mix have already shifted.

What the Blueprint Delivers

The Preferred Partner Blueprint is a fixed‑scope, flat‑fee engagement that turns your Snapshot scores and market reality into a concrete 90‑day execution plan your team can actually run.In 3–4 weeks, you’ll receive:

  • A defensible Preferred Partner Case that defines where you should be the first‑choice agency by patient type, risk, and partner (not “we’ll take anything”).

  • A Partner Proof & Reporting Pack: a draft one‑pager, outcome metrics, and reporting cadence for use with referral sources, ACOs, and funding channels.

  • A clear set of priority fixes in your intake, first‑week visits, and escalation processes that make it easier for partners to trust you with high‑risk patients.

  • A prioritized 90‑day action roadmap with owners, timelines, and simple success metrics—not a 30‑page deck that dies after the consultant leaves.

Who This is For

The Preferred Partner Blueprint and 90‑day implementation plan are built for CEOs, owners, and presidents of independent home care agencies who do not want to discover they were easy to cut after a change in ACO, funding channel, or referral source strategy. They want to fix it while they still have time and options.

If your Preferred Partner Readiness Snapshot says you are easy to cut or downgrade on paper, the internal signals are often census loss, weaker referral mix, or margin squeeze. The Preferred Partner Blueprint is a fixed‑scope, flat‑fee way to surface the specific gaps that put you at risk and deploy a 90‑day plan your team or vendors can execute.

How it Works

Step 1) Complete the Snapshot
You (and optionally one senior leader) complete the free Preferred Partner Readiness Snapshot so we start with a shared, factual view of your leverage and risk.Step 2) 20‑minute Blueprint Decision Call
We review your scores, pressure‑test where you’re truly at risk with key partners, and confirm whether the Blueprint can move the needle in 90 days. If it’s not a fit, you leave with a clearer view of your priorities.Step 3) 2-3 week Blueprint build
You'll receive an intake link used to capture information that will inform the Blueprint. Once the intake is complete, you'll be notified to schedule your Blueprint delivery and review call within 2-3 weeks. During a 45-minute call, we'll review your positioning map, proof & reporting pack, priority fixes, and your 90‑day roadmap. You then execute with your team or vendors; optional support is available if you want more help.

No PHI. Inputs are aggregated and operational.

Pricing & FAQs

Q: What is the investment?The Blueprint is a $2,500 fixed‑fee engagement. A deposit of $1,250 is paid during the 20-Minute Blueprint Decision Call. After making the deposit, you'll receive the intake link. The balance of $1250 is due when the Blueprint review call is scheduled.Q: Is this a marketing call?No. This is a focused, practical plan to strengthen your leverage with referral sources, ACOs, and funding channels in the next 90 days.Q: Will you get us new referrals or new payor contracts?No. The Blueprint gives you the clearest possible path and tools to improve your readiness and leverage; your team must implement it, and, through that implementation, new referrals and funding contracts will develop.Q: What do you need from us if we proceed?A brief structured intake that can be delegated. No PHI. Ranges are acceptable.Q: What if we’re not a fit?I’ll tell you directly in the 20-Minute Blueprint Decision Call. No pitch.

Ready to see if the Blueprint makes sense for your agency?Book a 20‑minute Blueprint Decision Call.Bring your Snapshot scores and we’ll walk through exactly where you’re at risk—and whether this 90‑day plan is the right move.

Michael Ruhs

I’ve spent 15+ years on the growth side of healthcare across hospitals, healthcare SaaS, and post‑acute, working with leaders focused on customer acquisition, retention, risk mitigation, and revenue growth.Now I help independent skilled home health agencies reduce replaceability and concentration risk by tightening the decision case referrers, ACOs, and payors use to choose—and keep—your agency. Instead of generic marketing audits, my work focuses on first‑choice clarity, proof your partners can defend internally, and 90‑day plans your existing team can actually run.