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Frequently Asked Questions About Medicare Covered Home Health Care
Sheri Maurer, Marketing Director (Moline, IL Office)
Home Bound Healthcare is a Medicare Certified Home Health Agency with offices throughout Illinois and Nevada. We are licensed by the Illinois Department of Public Health, and Certified by Medicare. Home Bound Healthcare is a member of the Better Business Bureau, and is accredited by the Home Caregivers Accreditation Of America.
Home Bound Healthcare serves patients in many Illinois counties, as well as some in Iowa and Nevada. For a complete listing of locations, click here.
Many people are not aware of the services that are available to them, and how to go about obtaining those services in the home. Home Bound Healthcare is working to educate the Community about Home Health Care and the choices they have.
- What is Home Health Care?
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- Home healthcare is care provided to patients in their home. It is generally believed that patients prefer being at home, and recover better as a result.
- Do I have to be hospitalized before asking for Home Health Care?
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- NO. The purpose of Home Health Care is not only to help patients recover from an illness or injury, but to PREVENT them from happening in the first place.
- What services are available in the home?
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- People are often amazed at the number of services that can be performed in the home. We can send nurses, nursing assistants, physical, occupational, and speech therapies, and social workers.
- Who pays for Home Health Care?
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- Home Health Care is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance.
- Do I have a Choice among Home Health Agencies?
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- Yes. If you have Medicare, by law you can choose to work with any Medicare Certified Home Health Agency. You have a right to change agencies at any time if you are not satisfied with the staff or quality of care you are receiving.
- How do I find out if I qualify for Medicare Covered Home Health Care?
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- You may call the agency at any time to have your questions answered.
- Do I need a Dr.`s order?
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- Yes. The Home Health Agency can contact the Physician for you to obtain the order or you may elect to call the Physician yourself. You should know before calling the Dr, which agency you would like to use, and let your Physician know your preference when asking for his order.
In addition to a Dr.'s order, prior to certifying a patient's eligibility for Home Health Services, the certifying physician or non-physician practitioner* must document that he or she had a face-to-face encounter with the patient and must document how the patient's clinical condition supports a homebound status and need for
skilled services. The face-to-face encounter must occur within 90 Days prior to start of home health care or 30 Days after the start of home health care.
* Non-physician practitioner = nurse practitioner or clinical nurse
specialist in collaboration with physician or physician assistant under the
supervision of the physician who will oversee the plan of care.
- What is the biggest mistake people make regarding home health care?
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- The biggest mistake or misconception people have is thinking they have to wait until after a hospitalization to receive the benefits of home health care.
Home Health Care can and should be used to PREVENT the falls, injuries, and illnesses that lead to hospital and nursing home stays in the first place.
- When Should I call for Home Health Care?
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- Call us if you notice a loved one, or yourself having any of the following:
- Difficulty getting up and down from a chair
- Dizziness, unsteady gait
- Poor balance
- Falls
- Pain
- New diagnosis
- Wounds
- Difficulty taking medications, or understanding them
- High Blood Pressure
- Skin Problems
- Need for IV therapy
- Weight loss or gain
- Unstable blood sugars
- Medication changes
- Safety Issues in the home
- Weakness or poor endurance
- Shortness of breath
- Injections
If you have any further questions, please feel free to call Sheri at Home Bound Healthcare (309) 762-7900.
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