LIFEGUARD HOME HEALTH

Home health care is defined by Medicare as intermittent/per visit services (not continuous or hourly service) provided by nurses; social workers; physical, occupational, or speech therapists; or home health aides to individuals restricted to the home and in need of short-term medical attention.

Home health services allow people who are disabled, elderly, or injured to live as independently as possible at home despite their medical condition. Being able to recover at home, in a familiar, safe, and comfortable environment, has been shown to reduce hospitalizations, falls, medication errors, and other mishaps. As an intermittent service, home health care can educate both patients and caregivers on the correct procedures for transfers, wheelchair use, medication timing, and all other aspects of daily living.

Along with teaching and interventions, care professionals also connect patients to resources in their community that promote their well-being and foster their recovery.

In order to qualify for Home Health Care :

• The patient is homebound, meaning that it takes taxing effort to leave the home unassisted
• The patient is under a physician’s care
• The patient needs skilled nursing care or physical, occupational, or speech therapy on at least an intermittent basis (regularly, but not continuously)
• The services provided are in accordance with the established plan of care and supervised by a physician
• The orders for service must be “medically reasonable and necessary”
• The patient is Medicare-eligible and the home health agency providing the services is certified by the Medicare program

Medicare is the largest single-payer for home health care. However, patients are not required to have Medicare to be eligible for home health services, and many private and managed care insurance plans offer coverage. Some private insurance companies may cover a certain percentage of the total cost, with the patient responsible for a deductible or co-pay.

In addition to Medicare, LifeGuard accepts private insurance, approved HMOs, and Medi-Cal.

To get help with your Medicare questions, call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227), TTY/TDD: 877-486-2048 for the speech and hearing impaired

 or visit https://www.medicare.gov