HOME HEALTH SERVICES

What are skilled home health care services?

 

Medicare Skilled Home Health Services refer to a set of medical care and therapy services provided in a patient's home, covered by Medicare Part A and/or Part B, medicaid, and some commercial  insurances when certain conditions are met. These services are intended for individuals who are homebound and need intermittent skilled care.

 

Who is qualified for home health services? 

To be eligible for Medicare-covered home health services, the patient must:

• Be under the care of a doctor who has created a home health care plan.

• Be certified by a doctor as homebound (leaving home requires significant effort and assistance).

• Need intermittent skilled nursing care, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, or continued occupational therapy.

• Get care from a Medicare-certified home health agency (HHA)

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Covered Services Include:

• Skilled nursing care: Wound care, injections, monitoring serious illnesses.

• Physical therapy: To regain movement and strength.

• Speech-language pathology services: Help with speech, language, and swallowing.

• Occupational therapy: Help with daily living activities like dressing or bathing.

• Home health aide services: Help with personal care (only if also receiving skilled services).

• Medical social services: Counseling or help finding community resources.

• Medical supplies and durable medical equipment (DME): Like wound dressings or walkers (DME is partly covered under Part B).

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What Services Are Not Covered?

• 24-hour-a-day home care

• Meals delivered to the home

• Homemaker services like shopping or cleaning (unless incidental to skilled care)

• Personal care services without the need for skilled care services (if that is the only care needed)

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