Question:
How do I find a Medicare-approved home health agency?
Answer:
You can find a Medicare approved home health agency by:
- Looking at the information in the Home Health Compare section of www.medicare.gov.
- Asking your doctor or hospital discharge planner.
- Using a senior community referral service, or other community agencies
that help you with your health care.
- Looking in your telephone directory in the yellow pages under “Home
Care” or “Home Health Care.” (Look for home health care
agencies that are Medicare-certified.)
If your doctor decides you need home health care, you have
the right to choose the home health agency to give you needed care and
services. Your choice should be honored by your doctor, hospital discharge
planner, or other referring agency. Some hospitals have their own home
health agency, but you do not have to choose the hospital’s agency.
You may choose any out agency that you feel will meet your medical needs.
If you are in a Medicare HMO, you may have to use a home
health agency that belongs to the HMO plan.
It is important to remember that Medicare only pays for
home health services that are given by a home health agency that meets
Medicare’s quality standards and is approved by Medicare. Medicare
regularly inspects home health agencies to make sure that these standards
are met. Your home health agency will provide you with all the home care
services determined necessary, including professionals and medical supplies.
The agency may do this through their own staff or through an arrangement
with another agency. Home care services provided include Skilled
Nursing , Physical
Therapy , Occupational
Therapy, Speech
Therapy, Home
Health Aide Services, and Medical
Social Work.
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