Capstone Partners’ April 2025 Home Care Sector Update confirms what many DME leaders are already feeling: demand is rising fast.
An aging U.S. population, combined with a strong consumer preference to age in place, is reshaping home care delivery.
That means more patients needing in-home equipment, faster.
For DME providers, the demand feels urgent.
6 Trends DMEs Should Watch
Capstone’s report highlights key market shifts every DME provider should track:
- Rising labor costs
- Persistent labor shortages
- Accelerating technology adoption
- More payer and service diversification
- Increased demand for aging-in-place support
- A major spike in M&A activity (Q1 2025)
These aren’t isolated to home health agencies. They impact every part of the home care ecosystem, especially the DME businesses that support it.
Why It Matters for DME
Let’s break this down:
- More patients aging at home = higher order volumes and documentation load
- Labor constraints = your team has less time to manage more work
- Tech acceleration = increased expectations for streamlined workflows
- Payer diversification = more billing complexity and compliance pressure
- M&A activity = increased competition, consolidation, and pressure to modernize
If you’re not adapting to these shifts, you risk falling behind just as the market heats up.
Automation Can Help You Keep Up and Stand Out
As the home care industry grows with increased demand, manual DME processes won’t scale. Automation is no longer optional to keep up.
Here’s where automation can make the biggest difference:
- Intake automation reduces order delays and staff workload
- Insurance verification runs instantly (avoid those time-consuming phone calls)
- Billing automation improves cash flow and reduces denials
- Order tracking and dashboards keep teams and patients informed
- Audit-ready documentation reduces compliance risks during high-growth periods
Automation doesn’t just relieve pressure. It helps you meet demand - and even grow - without burning out your team.
M&A Surge Means Modernization Matters More
Capstone reports a sharp rise in home care M&A for Q1 2025. As large players consolidate and expand, they’ll expect DME partners to keep pace, both operationally and technologically.
If you want to stay competitive, automation is your edge. It shows partners and acquirers that your business can scale, adapt, and deliver consistent results.
Aging-in-Place Isn’t Just a Trend - It’s the Future
The population is aging. Patients want care at home, and Capstone’s data shows that this demand is reshaping the industry in real time.
DME providers have a critical role to play, but only if they’re operationally ready. The opportunity is here.
Opportunity favors providers who move fast, work smart, and automate early.
