What is Home Health Care?
Home health care is a wide range of health care services that can be given in your home. Home health care is usually less expensive, more convenient, and just as effective as care you get in a hospital or skilled nursing facility.
The goal of home health care is to treat an illness or injury. Home health care helps you get better, regain your independence, and become as self-sufficient as possible.
In general, home health care includes part-time or intermittent skilled nursing care, and other skilled care services like physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology (therapy) services. Services may also include medical social services or assistance from a home health aide. Usually, a home health care agency coordinates the services your doctor orders for you. Ref. http://www.medicare.gov
Who pays for Home Health Care?
Home care services can be paid for directly by the patient and his or her family members or through a variety of public and private sources. Hospice care generally is provided regardless of the patient’s and/or family’s ability to pay. Public third-party payors include Medicare, Medicaid, the Older Americans Act, the Veterans Administration, and Social Services block grant programs. Some community organizations, such as local chapters of the American Cancer Society, the Alzheimer’s Association, and the National Easter Seal Society, also provide funding to help pay for home care services. Private third-party payors include commercial health insurance companies, managed care organizations, CHAMPUS, and workers’ compensation. Ref. http://www.nahc.org/consumer/FAQs/whopays.html
What does Medicare not cover?
If you have Medicare, home health care services are covered if you meet all the following conditions:
Your doctor must decide that you need medical care at home, and make a plan for your care at home.
You must need intermittent skilled nursing care, physical therapy, speech-language therapy, or to continue occupational therapy.
The home health agency caring for you must be approved by the Medicare program (Medicare-certified).
You must be homebound, or normally unable to leave home without help. To be homebound means that leaving home takes considerable and taxing effort. You can be homebound and still leave home for medical treatment or short, infrequent absences for non-medical reasons, such as trips to a barber or church. A need for adult day care doesn’t keep you from getting home health care. Read more……
How do I get medical equipment?
Self pay is one way to get your equipment. There are many companies that sell the equipment you may require. In addition, your doctor may be able to assist you get equipment from Medicare and Medicaid. More information click here.
Do I need Home Health Care?
Deciding if you need need home health care is sometimes a difficult decision. Home health care has become increasingly important today, because it is affecting so many Americans. The term encompasses a wide array of services offered by professionals in your home.
In order for you or your loved one to get home health care paid by Medicare, you will need to have a primary care physician. You also must have seen your doctor within the last 60 days. A face to face encounter must occur 90 days before care or 30 days after care has started.
As you probably know, hospital stays are shorter than they once were. The problem now is that more and more people need care at a high level when they get out of the hospital. That is where home health care can fill the gap. It is often difficult for family members to provide all the necessary care that you may need. If your loved one is recovering from an illness, or has other needs such as, being disabled, chronically or terminally ill, you may need the help of medical, nursing, or social staff to get through the recovery of your loved one or yourself. Home health care can also assist you with your daily activities of living a quality life.