What is Home Health?
Home Health is a benefit provided through Medicare, for those with either traditional Medicare or a Medicare Replacement plan. Most commercial plans will have a home health benefit as well. It must be prescribed and followed by a physician, physician assistant or a nurse practitioner.
Home health consists of skilled nursing, physical / occupational and speech therapy. Home health aides are also available, but must provide assistance with activities of daily living (i.e. bathing, dressing, grooming etc.). Home health aides are also allowed to assist in changing bedding as well as light meal preparation etc.
Examples of home health being prescribed include:
- Weakness after illness so therapy is ordered.
- Medication – new medication education, training the caregiver on setting up the medications.
- Wound care (surgical wounds, decubitus ulcers, infected wounds, etc.
- Following joint replacement surgery.
- During a flare up of Diabetes, Congestive Heart Failure, COPD, High Blood Pressure etc.
How Do I Get Home Health?
- Request it from your Primary Care Physician
- Request it from your Social Worker / Discharge Planner prior to discharge from the hospital or rehab
Remember that after you are prescribed home health as the result of a hospital or rehab stay, your physician or orthopedic surgeon will also need to agree and order it because he / she will be the one to “follow” your home health care.
What Will Home Health Cost Me?
Traditional Medicare covers the cost of Skilled Nursing, Therapies and Home Health Aides at %100.
Medicare Replacement Plans may have a co-pay or a co-insurance responsibility. You will need to check your policy to see.
View Home Health Awareness TOP AGENCY page!
Download your Medicare and You guide here! You’ll learn all about your Medicare Home Health benefits plus much more! Download Here!
When Selecting a home health agency, please use this Check List prepared by Medicare!
Download the Home Health Agency Check List Here