A simple definition of home health care is medical care that is provided in the patient's home, if they are confined to their home while recovering from illness, surgery, or injury. Home care is a wide range of health care services that you can receive at home in the event of an illness or injury. Home health care is often less expensive, more convenient, and as effective as the care you receive in a hospital or skilled nursing facility (SNF). Home health care consists of specialized and medically necessary services prescribed by a doctor for the treatment of an illness, injury, or medical condition.
In short, home health care focuses on medical needs and is covered by insurance. On the contrary, home care helps to carry out basic daily activities and can be privately paid or covered by insurance. Whether you need medical assistance at home or non-medical help with everyday tasks, the experienced Compassus team is here to help. Home health care may include nursing, occupational, speech and physical therapy and other services to help you stay safe at home.
Your unique home care needs should ultimately guide your decision between home health care and complementary care. They seem similar and both provide home care, but there are important differences between home health care and personal home care. In addition to covering standard home health care services, many insurance providers cover durable medical equipment (e.g., in home health care, a nurse comes to your home to help you recover after recent surgery, injury, or hospitalization, or to learn to manage symptoms of chronic diseases).). Medicare may also cover the part-time or intermittent help of a home health aide to bathe, dress, and perform other daily tasks.
If your provider decides that you need home health care, they should provide you with a list of agencies that provide services in your area. If you have a Medicare Supplemental Insurance (Medigap) policy or other health insurance coverage, let your doctor or other provider know so that your bills are paid correctly. The main objectives are to teach you how to take care of yourself, manage your health and live as independently as possible. Specific home health agencies may have their own additional requirements, and you may also need to meet certain requirements for your insurance plan.
If you want to receive home health care but don't meet the requirements, private payment for home health care may also be an option. The home health agency must give you a notice called Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN) before providing you with services and supplies that Medicare doesn't cover. A health care provider (such as a nurse practitioner) must evaluate you face-to-face before certifying that you need home health services. If you are eligible for home health care, you can receive these services as directed by your doctor, in addition to having a caregiver.
You won't qualify for the home health care benefit if you need more than part-time or intermittent specialized care. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services describe home health care as “less expensive, more convenient, and as effective as care received in a hospital or skilled nursing facility (SNF).)”.
