QAPI360 vs. The Home Health Consultant: Which Compliance Support Model Fits Your Agency?

Compliance decisions rarely happen in a vacuum. They usually surface when something feels off:

• survey prep feels chaotic
• quality meetings feel performative
• leadership realizes they’re “doing compliance,” but still concerned about meeting Medicare expectations

For many Medicare-certified home health and hospice agencies, the hardest part isn’t understanding that compliance matters. The hardest part is understanding what kind of support actually solves the problems they’re experiencing. 

Importantly, agencies must recognize that compliance is much more than just QAPI. QAPI (Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement) is only one piece of a much larger compliance puzzle. The answer to what support you need will be different for every agency.

This article was written in consultation with Mariam Treystman.

Both QAPI360 and The Home Health Consultant’s Administrative Compliance Program (ACP) support compliance in different ways, but they differ greatly in scope. We’re writing this article so agencies can compare structure, expectations, workload, and process. 

After reading, you’ll be able to determine which model aligns with how your agency actually operates, and what aspects of compliance you need help with.

What Problem Are Agencies Trying to Solve With Compliance Support?

Most agencies don’t wake up wanting “a QAPI product.” They’re trying to solve specific operational problems, such as:

• QAPI meetings that feel rushed or underdeveloped.
• Uncertainty about whether current programs would satisfy a CMS or accreditor survey.
• Difficulty turning data into defensible performance improvement projects (PIPs).
• Trouble managing overall compliance amid growing pressure from Medicare regulations that expect stronger documentation and oversight.

Often, these pain points are tied to the agency’s quality improvement process (QAPI). But agencies may also be struggling with other compliance areas. For example: keeping an Emergency Preparedness plan updated or ensuring an Infection Control program meets standards. 

Compliance support tools tend to fall into two broad categories: 

• Software platforms

and

• Consultative programs

QAPI360 and The Home Health Consultant represent these two approaches very clearly.

What Is QAPI360 and How Does It Support Home Health and Hospice Agencies?

QAPI360 is a cloud-based compliance and quality management software designed to centralize QAPI-related activities. Its primary value lies in providing…

• structure,
• organization,
• and data visibility

…primarily for an agency’s QAPI program. Agencies enter or import their data into the platform, then use QAPI360’s built-in dashboards and reports to analyze trends and document QAPI efforts.

The software reduces reliance on disconnected spreadsheets or paper logs and helps standardize how quality data is stored and presented. By digitizing the QAPI process, QAPI360 can make it easier to identify patterns and initiate performance improvement projects in response.

It’s important to note that QAPI360 focuses on QAPI itself. Agencies may choose to adapt the platform to support other compliance-related tracking, but QAPI360 is designed first and foremost around QAPI workflows. The agency remains responsible for interpreting the data, making decisions, and following through on improvement actions. 

What Is The Home Health Consultant’s Administrative Compliance Program (ACP)?

The Administrative Compliance Program (ACP) is a consultant-led compliance management model, not a software. Instead of asking agencies to build and manage their own compliance systems, ACP provides…

• ongoing external oversight,
• structure, 
• and accountability

…across all administrative areas of compliance. 

Importantly, ACP encompasses far more than just QAPI management. The Home Health Consultant team ensures that every aspect of administrative regulatory compliance is addressed. This includes but is not limited to:

• your QAPI program
• your emergency preparedness
• Your infection control
• Your agency’s overall survey-readiness 

ACP focuses on how compliance actually functions inside an agency. 

Documentation templates, policy frameworks, and tracking tools are provided through an online portal, but the defining feature of ACP is the hands-on guidance behind them. The ACP service essentially functions as an extension of your management team, keeping your agency on track with all Medicare Conditions of Participation, not only the QAPI portion.

How Do QAPI 360 & The Home Health Consultant Models Differ in Day-to-Day Use?

With QAPI360, someone on your internal staff is responsible for the day-to-day usage of the tool. This means tasks like…

• entering data (e.g. clinical indicators, adverse event logs, patient satisfaction scores),
• reviewing the software’s dashboards regularly,
• initiating PIPs when thresholds are not met, 
• and ensuring all QAPI documentation stays current and ready for survey.

The value you get from QAPI360 primarily comes from your team’s self-directed use of the system. Day-to-day, it’s about feeding data into the platform and pulling insights out.  

With ACP, your agency’s role is more collaborative. Your team still provides data to the consultants (for instance, submitting quarterly stats or reports via the ACP portal), but much of the heavy lifting on analysis and planning is shared with consultants. 

Compliance priorities are set jointly, and meetings are structured and led by a consultant. The program is designed so that compliance work doesn’t stall when internal staff get busy or when there’s turnover.

Neither approach is inherently “better.” They’re just very different solutions for agencies with different needs. 

One is a tool you operate, and the other is a service that partners with you. 

How Do Pricing Structures Compare Between QAPI360 and ACP?

Both QAPI360 and The Home Health Consultant use subscription-based pricing models, but their price points and what’s included are quite different.

A standard QAPI360 subscription is roughly $250 per month (as of early 2026) for the base software access, which typically requires a yearly contract commitment. They also offer monthly or annual fees depending on the plan selected.

The cost of QAPI360 generally allows unlimited users in the system and includes technical support and training on the platform. Higher-tier plans (for example, a “Compliance+” plan around $349/month) might include additional features or support. But in all cases, the pricing is relatively low compared to full consulting, because the agency is doing most of the work themselves. 

QAPI360’s cost scales well for agencies that already have a developed internal compliance infrastructure. For these agencies, QAPI360 offers a predictable software subscription.

The Home Health consultant’s ACP is priced as a flat monthly consulting fee of $850 per month (as of early 2026). That fee includes access to:

• on-call support for questions
• structured one-on-one quarterly meetings
• an online portal with custom documents
• ongoing guidance throughout the year

The higher price reflects that you’re getting professional expertise and labor each month. 

For agencies that need comprehensive oversight, this $850/month can be very cost-effective compared to hiring a full-time compliance team. 

To put it simply, QAPI360’s pricing is lower because it’s a do-it-yourself tool, whereas ACP’s pricing is higher because it’s a customized service with professional guidance. 

What Types of Agencies Tend to Be a Better Fit for QAPI360 or The Home Health Consultant?

By now we hope you’re starting to get an idea of which solution is offering the support you need. At this point, the differences between these two models should be more clear. Below is a breakdown of the types of agencies that may be better fits for each option.

Agencies that do well with QAPI360 usually share a few characteristics:

• They have a capable internal compliance or quality lead who already understands QAPI requirements and general compliance obligations. This person (or team) is able to devote time to managing the QAPI software and acting on the output.
• Leadership wants better visibility into quality data and trends, but they are comfortable making compliance decisions independently. In other words, they’re confident that if the software highlights a problem, their team can figure out the solution without outside guidance.
• The team is tech-savvy and comfortable adopting new software tools. They have the discipline to log in regularly and use the platform’s features without needing external prompting.
• The agency prefers a lower monthly cost and a self-managed approach to compliance. Perhaps they already have other parts of compliance under control (policies, emergency prep, etc.) and the main gap is organizing the QAPI documentation.

The Home Health Consultant’s ACP tends to work best for agencies that:

• Want expert input to ensure they’re interpreting regulations correctly and completely. These agencies might feel uneasy about whether they’re missing something in all those pages of CMS rules. Having an expert validate and guide them is a relief.
• Feel their compliance knowledge or bandwidth could be improved, or worry it’s overly dependent on one or two people internally. For example, if the agency realizes “Susan is our only compliance guru, and if we lost her we’d be in trouble,” they are a good candidate for external support to build a more robust system.
• Prefer proactive guidance over just a tool. These agencies don’t just want templates; they want someone to tell them what to do next. They see value in meetings, documentation, and survey prep being structured for them by an experienced consultant.
• Need to strengthen compliance beyond QAPI. Often, agencies choose ACP because they recognize that staying compliant is an ongoing, multi-faceted job. If an agency leader finds themselves saying, “I know we should be doing more than just QAPI meetings every quarter, but I’m not sure what, or I don’t have time,” that agency is an ideal fit for ACP’s comprehensive approach.

Below, we’ve created a chart comparing the two options side by side, so you can clearly see how they differ:

How Should Agencies Decide Which Option Fits Their Compliance Journey?

The most important question isn’t “Which one is better?” It’s: “Which model aligns with how our agency operates today, and where we’re trying to go?” Both approaches can effectively support compliance, but the right fit depends on your agency’s unique context.

Take a realistic look at your agency’s strengths and pain points.

• Are you confident handling most compliance areas except for QAPI documentation?
• Or do you feel there are blind spots in your compliance program that an expert could help illuminate and fix?

Your answers will guide you to the right choice.

If you’re interested in learning more about ACP and whether it’s right for you, we invite you to get in touch for a free strategy call. We’re happy to talk through your agency’s needs, answer any questions, and help you explore how ACP can support your compliance goals. 

If after reading this you suspect QAPI360 suits you better, that’s great too! We wish you continued success in improving quality and maintaining compliance. The important thing is that you’ve taken a step to evaluate your options. Whichever path you choose, you’ll be moving your home health or hospice agency toward greater compliance confidence and peace of mind. 

*Disclaimer: The content provided in this article is not intended to be, nor should it be construed as, legal, financial, or professional advice. No consultant-client relationship is established by engaging with this content. You should seek the advice of a qualified attorney, financial advisor, or other professional regarding any legal or business matters. The consultant assumes no liability for any actions taken based on the information provided.