What is included in Home health care services and Health care types?

What is included in home health care services and Health care types?

For some adults, living independently can be hard and requires extra help. Living isolated at home can be a burden for some. That’s how they can benefit from home care and home health care services. Home health or home care? – Well, they sound similar, but each offers different services and both can be tailored to match every patient’s needs. What is included in home health care services? What does home care offer? – At Medicareabc, we will help you understand better about both and decided which one is suitable for you. If you need domiciliary care, you’re probably interested to know more about both. Keep reading! 

What are Home Health care services?

Home Health Care is medical supervision provided to adults and seniors to treat illness or injury. Although this service is a short-term one, it can delay the need for long-term nursing home care. This service is provided through home health agencies, licensed nurses, occupational therapists, and sometimes, hospice agencies. Seniors can get home health care coverage under either Medicare Part A or Part B. 

Medicaid vs Medicare home health care

Medicare only covers home health care services if you’re eligible after being directed by a certified doctor who assures that you’re homebound and in need of nursing skilled care. However, Medicare doesn’t cover all the needed home care services. In this case, Medicaid may cover these services. The difference between Medicaid and Medicare home health care services is that Medicaid offers coverage for home health care and home care as well. Personal care can be covered through regular Medicaid or Medicaid Waiver, and sometimes both. On the other hand, Medicare Original offers coverage for home health care services only. 

Read More: Health Insurance Plan?

 

Difference between home health care and home care

Home care includes non-medical care, offering companionship and personal assistant to senior patients. On the other hand, home health care provides professional medical care at home after a face-to-face appointment with a Medicare-certified doctor. Another critical difference is that Medicare offers coverage to home health care, but doesn’t cover home care services.

What is included in home health care?

Home Health Care is prescribed by a doctor or licensed specialist following injury or hospitalization as part of senior health care regimen. The home health care staff coordinates the prescribed care and therapy, keeping the doctor updated on the patient’s condition. Home Health Care program includes: 

• Skilled nursing care (Part-time or intermittent)
• Home health aide (Part-time or intermittent)
• Physical and occupational therapy 
• Medical tests
• Health status monitor
• Medication or shots prescription
• Wound care
• Speech-language therapy 

Home Health Care may include helping adults with bathing, dressing, and eating. It may also include assisting them with cooking, cleaning, and other housekeeping duties.  

Who qualifies for home health care services?

• Seniors who have just been discharged from a hospital stay, skilled nursing facility, or rehabilitation. 
• Seniors with fragile health who can’t bear traveling to and from doctor’s office
• Seniors who need medication monitoring 
• Seniors who need occupational or physical therapy after a decline in function 

Read More: Vision Insurance Plan?

How to get home health care services?

Medicare covers home health care if you’re eligible to Medicare Part A and Part B, meeting the following conditions: 

1. If you’re homebound, which means that you face many difficulties when leaving the house for doctor visits
2. If you need skilled nursing services on an intermittent basis, which means that you need care once every 60 days. The period can be one day up to three weeks and may go longer if your condition needs so. However, your illness must be finite and predictable 
3. If you need skilled therapy services, including physical, occupational, and speech therapy, on an intermittent basis.
4. If you have visited the doctor in person within the 90 days before starting home health care or within the 30 days after the first day you started the service. 
5. If you receive care from a Medicare-certified home health agency 
6. If you had a face-to-face meeting with your doctor and he confirmed that you’re homebound in need of intermittent care. 

P.S: The doctor must review and confirm your health care plan every 60 days. However, a face-to-face meeting isn’t required for recertification. 

Medicare doesn’t provide coverage for:

• 24/7 home care
• Meals delivered to your home 
• Home services such as cleaning, cooking, shopping, and laundry if this is the only service you need (It may be included along with medical services)
• Personal care such as bathing, dressing, eating, and more if this is the only service you need (It may be included along with medical services)
• If you only need occupational therapy

What are the Types of Home Health Care services?

Senior patients can receive a limitless range of services at home depending on their health condition. The doctor is responsible for determining the care plan and the needed services at home. Home Health Care Services may include: 

Doctor care

 A doctor may periodically visit the patients at home to diagnose and review their health conditions, along with their needs. 

Nursing care 

It is the most common type of home health care service. A licensed nurse monitors the patients’ general health, administrating medication and other medical support. Nursing care includes wound care, ostomy care, and intravenous therapy.

Skilled therapy services

 Some patients may need physical, occupational, or speech therapy after an illness or injury to help them regain their strength and perform daily duties. A physical therapist helps patients to strengthen their muscles and joints. An occupational therapist helps patients to start performing daily functions again (eating, dressing, bathing, and more) after a disability. A speech therapist helps patients to regain their ability to communicate again after suffering from impaired speech.

Medical social services: 

Some patients need social services from medical social workers (The MSWs) such as counseling and locating community resources to help their recovery.  

Care from home health aides (HHAs)

 Some patients may need home health services to help with their basic needs such as getting out of bed, bathing, eating, dressing, and more. Health aides are trained to perform such services under the supervision of a licensed nurse. 

Basic assistance care

Some patients may need homemaker or basic assistance care while receiving medical care at home. Home assistance care includes household services such as laundry, meal preparation, grocery shopping, and more as part of in-home care. 

Nutritional support

Some treatment plans require nutritional support, where dietitians visit their home to provide dietary assessments. 

Laboratory and X-rays

If needed, certain laboratory tests can be performed at home such as blood, urine tests, and X-rays. 

Pharmaceutical services and durable medical equipment:

 If prescribed by the doctor, medicine and medical equipment are delivered at home, providing training on how to use the equipment or medicine use as part of in-home care.

Transportation:

 Some companies may provide transportation to patients who need transportation to/from medical facilities for treatment or physical exams.  

The cost of home health care

If you’re already enrolled in the Original Medicare plan, you will pay:

• $0 for home health care services ordered by the doctor and certified by a home health agency
• $20 of Medicare-approved amount for durable medical equipment such as a walker, wheelchair, and more

Medicare won’t cover any additional services outside of the certified plan and you will have to pay the out-of-pocket expenses.

What is home care?

Home care includes any support services that provide in-home care to seniors at the warmth of their homes, avoiding unnecessary hospitalization. Home care is professionally provided to patients, who are recovering from chronic issues, have special needs, or suffer from disabilities. Nurses, aides, and therapists are trained on seniors’ aid, providing short-term or long-term in-home care. While this service is important to help patients with daily activities, its effect is mainly highlighted in providing safety and compassion. 

Who needs home care?  

• Seniors who need assistance with daily activities such as bathing, eating, or using restrooms
• Seniors who need transportation to/from doctor visits and medical tests
• Seniors who need assistance with cooking and household activities
• Seniors who need companionship at home

Types of Home Care Services

Personal care and companionship

Non-medical care, also known as home health aide services, includes help with everyday activities such as meal preparation, bathing, dressing, and light housekeeping. This service provides a sense of safety, assisting patients with ambulation, transfer to the toilet, and preventing sudden falls. It also includes in-home care, including medication reminders, meal preparation, and laundry. Perhaps companionship is the most preferred part about domiciliary care, engaging in chatting, in-home activities, and hobbies. This service doesn’t have to be prescribed by a doctor.

Private duty nursing care (Long-term home health care)

Home-based skilled nursing, also known as nursing care, includes long-term care for patients with chronic diseases, disabilities, or injuries. This service needs to be prescribed by a doctor. Private duty nursing care provides:

• Ventilator care
• Tracheostomy care
• Monitoring vital signs
• Administering medications
• Ostomy/gastrostomy care
• Feeding tube care
• Catheter care
• Special care for traumatic brain injury, ALS, MS, and spinal cord injury 

Home health care (Short-term home health care)

Medicare-certified home health care, also known as visiting nurse services, includes physician-directed care to help patients who are recovering from illness, hospital stay, or injury. This service needs to be prescribed by a doctor. Home Health Care includes:

• Intermittent nursing services
• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Speech-language therapy
• Medical social work
• Home health aide services

Why is Medicare ABC the best home health care agency in providing home health care?

• We’ve served long in the Medicare field, providing assistance to all of our customers
• We have a current license to operate
• We’re an approved Medicare provider
• We offer a list of trusted caregivers
• We ensure patient confidentiality 
• We have supervisors who continuously monitor our performance to ensure quality 
• We spend much time with the nurses and caregivers to discuss their duties, discussing your health condition

1. We provide information about your health condition, including illnesses or injuries
2. Your likes and dislikes
3. Your plan and what is included
4. Your medication and when should it be taken
5. Possible behavior problems
6. The need for walkers, canes, and so on
7. If you’ve mobility issues and the need for walking assistance
8. Therapeutic exercises and which are suitable with detailed instructions
9. How to handle an emergency medical situation 

The Wrap-up

Adults who seek and value their independence can greatly benefit from both Medicare home health care and home care services. If you’re one or know an adult who needs personal assistance or home health care, you will probably need someone who manages your on-going medical condition or help you with the daily activities. Whatever your inquiry, we will be more than glad to assist you and find a suitable solution for your case. If you have any questions regarding what is included in home health care services, don’t hesitate and call us NOW on 1-877-255-0284 for more information. 

FAQs

Does home health care include 24-hour skilled nursing at home?

Home health care offers part-time or intermittent nursing care at home. So, basically, no, it doesn’t cover 24-hour skilled nursing at home. 

Does Medicare cover home health care?

Yes, Medicare Original (Part A & B) offers coverage for home health care services if prescribed by a licensed doctor.