Compassus Taps Fresenius Veteran Michael Asselta As Next CEO

There’s a new leader at the helm of Compassus. The company’s board of directors has named Michael J. Asselta as CEO.

“Compassus continues to build national momentum in executing its shared mission with long standing provider and payer partners to expand access to best-in-class home-based care services,” Pat Ryan, executive chairman at Compassus, said in a press statement. “Mike’s experience driving operational excellence at scale and employer-of-choice initiatives will be a tremendous asset in advancing these goals.”

Compassus is one of the largest home-based care providers in the country. The Brentwood, Tennessee-based company provides home health, hospice, palliative and home infusion services across more than 270 locations in 30 states.

Asselta takes over for David Grams, who has served as Compassus’ CEO since 2022. Grams will step into an interim advisory role to aid with the transition. Grams succeeded Jim Deal in the role of CEO.

Prior to joining Compassus, Asselta was chief operating officer of U.S. care delivery and president of Fresenius Kidney Care at Fresenius Medical Care North America. He spent almost eight years at the company.

Before Asselta’s time at Fresenius Medical Care North America, he served in leadership roles at companies like Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX) and SelectQuote Senior.

“Mike has an impressive track record of operating and growing multi-site health care service organizations that provide the highest quality of care, and I am confident he is the right person to lead Compassus as it continues to broaden access to integrated, home-based care services in partnership with market-leading health systems and payor organizations,” Ryan said.

Last year, Home Health Care News named Compassus one of its six home health providers to watch.

One of the reasons Compassus earned a spot on the list was due to its consistent growth. The company showed up in Inc. 5000’s list of fastest-growing U.S. companies in 2021, 2018 and 2017. That growth has been driven by both de novos and acquisitions.

At the start of the year, the company formed a joint venture with Bon Secours Mercy Health, a Ohio-based health system.

A month prior to this, Compassus and Ascension announced the expansion of their Tennessee-based home health partnership, Ascension Saint Thomas at Home.

Asselta hopes to continue building on these accomplishments.

“Compassus has a strong reputation for excellence and high-quality, home-based care across the country, which continues to be realized through its integrated care model and growth in market-leading partnerships,” Asselta said in the press statement. “I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the organization into this next phase alongside a highly accomplished management team of passionate and compassionate leaders. Together, we will continue working to transform lives and deliver person-centered care where people live through our ‘Care for who I am’ mission.”