Medicare Tools Help You Compare Care

Sheri Maurer, Marketing Director (Moline, IL Office)

You comparison shop for groceries and automobiles, shouldn`t you do the same for health care?

Take time to compare care.

Comparing nursing homes and home health agencies has become easier, thanks to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), a federal agency of the US Department of Health and Human Services. CMS provides consumers with quality of care information about nursing homes and home health agencies.

This information is available at www.medicare.gov. (Select compare nursing homes in your area, or compare home health agencies in your area)

These comparison tools provide information about available services and quality of care in nursing homes and home health agencies across the Country.

For those looking for a Home Health Agency, the site will provide you with how the agencies in your area compare with each other, and the National averages in the following areas:

  1. Percentage of patients who get better at walking or moving around
  2. Percentage of patients who get better at getting in and out of bed
  3. Percentage of patients who have less pain when moving around
  4. Percentage of patients whose bladder control improves
  5. Percentage of patients who get better at bathing
  6. Percentage of patients who get better taking their medicines correctly(by mouth)
  7. Percentage of patients who are short of breath less often
  8. Percentage of patients who stay at home after an episode of care ends
  9. Percentage of patients whose wounds improved or healed after an operation
  10. Percentage of patients who had to be admitted to the hospital
  11. Percentage of patients who need urgent, unplanned medical care
  12. Percentage of patients who need unplanned medical care related to a wound that is new, is worse, or has become infected

Quality can differ among agencies. To make the best decision, call various home health agencies and ask questions. Review the information on the Medicare website. Do your homework, and exercise your right to choose which home health agency you feel would provide the best care for you or your loved one.

The website also offers publications and checklists to assist you in making a decision.

For more information, feel free to contact Sheri Maurer, Marketing Director for Home Bound Healthcare at 309-762-7900.