On Apr 11, 2016, we issued an updated research report on Baton Rouge, LA-based Amedisys Inc. AMED. The company provides home health and hospice services throughout the U.S. to a 360,000 and growing chronic, co-morbid, and aging American population.Over the long term, the home health industry is poised for tremendous growth, driven by an aging U.S. population, patients’ desire for independence, and home health as a cheaper care modality. Amedisys should continue to benefit from the aging demographics of the U.S. population and the need for higher acuity patients to be taken care of in a home nursing environment. Recently, the Wall Street Journal published an in-depth article on hospice benefits, with particular focus on the increased Medicare expenditure for the same. The article also emphasized on factors driving growth in longer length of patients’ stay in hospice care. Both these facts reflect higher revenue opportunities for hospice care providers like Amedisys.Currently, the company is developing and acquiring new business lines that will complement its existing home care and hospice business and help seniors manage their health more effectively while staying in their homes longer. In line with this strategy, the company has closed 2 significant acquisitions over the past three months – the Infinity HomeCare acquisition on Dec 31, 2015 and the Associated Home Care acquisition on Mar 1, 2016. With the company’s strategy currently aimed at expanding its capabilities of care that can be delivered at home, the Associated Home Care is Amedisys’ first acquisition in the personal care space. This buyout is also expected to expand Amedisys’ strong home health and hospice presence in Massachusetts.On the flip side, with few barriers to entry in the market for home health and hospice, Amedisys primarily faces tough competition from local privately and publicly-owned and hospital-owned health care providers. The company experiences significant reimbursement pressure as well.Amedisys currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).Key Picks in the SectorSome other well-ranked stocks in the medical sector are ResMed Inc. RMD, Cardiovascular Systems Inc. CSII and Almost Family Inc. AFAM. All the three stocks bear a similar Zacks Rank #2.Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report RESMED INC (RMD): Free Stock Analysis Report CARDIOVASCLR SY (CSII): Free Stock Analysis Report AMEDISYS INC (AMED): Free Stock Analysis Report ALMOST FAMILY (AFAM): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research