FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
What is home health care?
Who pays for home care?
What Medicare does not pay for?
Who uses home health care?
What services are available?
How do I get my needed medical equipment?
Why use home health care?
What is home health care?
Home health care is skilled in-home care provided by a certified & licensed Medicare agency. Home health care provides medical care and assistance in the privacy of your home with the ultimate goal of restoring the highest quality of life possible. Home heath care is very cost effective and allows clients to remain in their homes proud, confident and independent thus reducing the need for a return hospital stay. Home Care Providers of Texas provides for comprehensive care that is personalized to fit individual medical and therapeutic needs in coordination with your physician.
Who pays for home health care?
You pay $0 for your home health visits when Medicare is your primary insurance.
Home Care Providers of Texas does all the billing, therefore you are able to concentrate on your recovery.
Medicare will pay for home health care visits, if:
- Services are ordered by a physician.
- The client is homebound. This means you are normally unable to leave home and that leaving home is a major effort. When you leave home, it must be infrequent, and for a short time. You may attend religious services. You may leave the house for medical treatment and/or appointments.
- Services must be intermittent and medically reasonable.
- The home health agency caring for you must be approved and certified by the Medicare program.
What Medicare does not pay for?
Medicare does not pay for the following:
- 24-hour per day care at home.
- Meals delivered to your home.
- Homemaker services like shopping, cleaning and laundry.
- Personal care given by home health aides like bathing, using the toilet or help in getting dressed when this is the ONLY care you need.
Who uses home health care?
- Recent hospitalization
- Recent surgery
- Aggravation/exacerbation of disease process
- Development of a new disease process
- Persons with conditions such as stroke or kidney disease who require frequent monitoring and can no longer meet their needs alone.
- Blood pressure/blood sugar monitoring
- Physical / Occupational / Speech Therapy need
- Wound care
- Pain management
- Family/patient education and/or instruction
- Home safety instruction
- Changes or additions or new medication
What services are available?
Skilled Nursing: Includes services and care that can only be performed safely and correctly by a registered/licensed nurse such as:
- Wound Care / Wound VAC Therapy
- Disease Process Education
- Evaluation / Management of Patient Care
- Observation / Assessment of Conditions
- Diabetic Care / Education / Management
- Medication Care / Education / Management
- Pain Care / Education / Management
- Home Safety/Emergency Education
- Cardiac / Pulmonary Rehabilitation
- Oncology Nursing
- Bowel and Bladder Education / Incontinence
- Energy Conservation Education
Home Care Providers of Texas includes a full staff of salaried registered nurses (RN’s), licensed vocational nurses (LVN’s) and Certified Wound, Ostomy & Continence Nurse.
Physical Therapy: The physical therapist directed objectives are to relieve pain, improve or maintain functions such as strength and mobility, educate in the most effective methods of performing essential activities, and test functions such as muscle strength, joint mobility, breathing capacity and muscular coordination. These goals may be achieved through exercise to regain movement and strength to a body area; training on how to use special equipment or by doing daily activities. Physical therapy can include some or all of the following:
- Safety Assessment / Education
- Mobility Training
- Endurance / Strengthening Exercises
- Pain Management
- Joint Replacement Program
- Home Exercise Program
- Lymphedema Therapy
Occupational Therapy: The occupational therapist objective is to provide the patient with skills for the job of living - those necessary to function within the home environment and in the community. These goals may be achieved by developing, improving and restoring independence to the patient through means of engagement in activities of daily living that have personal meaning and value. Occupational therapy can include some or all of the following:
- Memory / Cognition Treatment
- Pain Management
- Upper body strengthening
- Myofascial Release
Speech Therapy: The speech therapist objective is to provide corrective or rehabilitative treatment of physical and/or cognitive disorders resulting in difficulty with verbal communication. These goals may be achieved through the use of strengthening exercises, instructive or repetitive practice and drilling, to the use of audio-visual aids. Speech therapy can include some or all of the following:
- Memory / Cognition Therapy
- Communication Skills
- Difficulty in Swallowing
- Speech / Language
- Post Stroke
- E-stim Therapy
- Alzheimer’s Treatment
Home Care Providers of Texas includes a full staff of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists trained in the appropriate therapeutic disciplines.
Master of Social Work Services: The Master of social work services objective is to assist the patient and their families with problems that may occur during their illness, disability and recovery. These goals may be achieved by providing an assessment and possible referral to local community resources for social, emotional, financial and personal assistance.
How do I get my needed my medical equipment?
Your physician, nurse and/or therapist can make an assessment to determine what equipment you may need. Medicare usually pays 80% of the approved amount for certain pieces of medical equipment, such as a wheelchair or walker.
Why use home health care?
Home Care...
- Allows for early discharge from hospitals and prevents or postpones care in a long term facility.
- Can be an extension of the physician at home, providing confidence and peace of mind.
- Is personalized one-to-one, tailored to the needs of each individual allowing maximum freedom for the client.
- Is cost effective when compared to hospital or nursing care.
- Allows persons to remain in their own homes, proud and independent.
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