Qualifications For Medicare - Preferred Home Care of Florida

Qualifications For Medicare

When Does Medicare Cover Home Health Services?

Medicare will cover a limited amount of home health care services as an alternative to entering a nursing home when certain criteria are met. A home health agency must be Medicare certified, and a doctor must decide whether or not home care is needed. Medicare does not cover custodial care (non-nursing personal care) unless it is needed in combination with skilled nursing care for the recovery or rehabilitation of a short-term illness. Preferred Home Care of Florida does accept Medicaid, Long-Term Care, Private Insurance and we have competitive Private Pay rates too.

Four Criteria To Meet Medicare Qualifications:

The patients’ doctor must decide that medical care at home is necessary and then make a plan for the home care that is needed.

Intermittent skilled nursing care or skilled care must be needed

The home care agency providing care must be Medicare certified

The patient must be homebound or unable to leave home safely without help. However, leaving home for short periods for a medical reason such as going to a doctor’s appointment or for a nonmedical reason such as going to church does not disqualify someone for Medicare home health services.

When These Four Medicare Criteria Are Met, Medicare Will Cover The Following Services:

Skilled nursing care on a part-time intermittent basis. Skilled nursing care is care that can only be performed safely by a licensed nurse. This may include procedures such as wound care management, administration of intravenous (IV) medication, injections, tube feeding, and oxygen to help with breathing.

Skilled care not only includes nursing, but it includes rehabilitation therapies such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language therapy for as long as the physician in charge states the need for it. Any care that can safely be provided by a non-medical person without the supervision of a nurse is not considered skilled care.

Home health aide services are provided on a part-time intermittent basis if the home health aide services are part of the care plan due to the illness or injury. Home health aide services are not covered if they are the only care needed. Home health aide services may include bathing, using the bathroom, dressing, or other personal care. These services are not performed by a licensed nurse.

Medical social services are provided when they relate to the specific illness that Medicare home health care covers. This might include counseling or help in finding community resources. Certain medical supplies like wound dressings.

Personal care is given by home health aides such as bathing, dressing, toileting when this is the only care that is provided

When Does Medicare Cover Home Health Services?

Four Criteria To Meet Medicare Qualifications:

The patients’ doctor must decide that medical care at home is necessary and then make a plan for the home care that is needed.

Intermittent skilled nursing care or skilled care must be needed

The home care agency providing care must be Medicare certified

The patient must be homebound or unable to leave home safely without help. However, leaving home for short periods for a medical reason such as going to a doctor’s appointment or for a nonmedical reason such as going to church does not disqualify someone for Medicare home health services.

When These Four Medicare Criteria Are Met, Medicare Will Cover The Following Services:

Medical social services are provided when they relate to the specific illness that Medicare home health care covers. This might include counseling or help in finding community resources. Certain medical supplies like wound dressings.

Durable medical equipment such as a wheelchair or walker

Home care is needed 24 hours per day

Home delivered meals

Homemaker/companion services such as shopping, cleaning, and laundry

Personal care is given by home health aides such as bathing, dressing, toileting when this is the only care that is provided

CONTACT

Licenses:

QUICKLINKS

SUPPORT