MYTH 1: To be eligible for home health services under Medicare Part A, patients must have a skilled nursing need.
FACT: While home health has the ability to address ALL patient needs including nursing needs, Part A covers home health services for patients with therapy only needs as well. A patient may be admitted to home health for physical therapy or speech therapy only.
MYTH 2: You must be recently discharged from a hospital or rehabilitation facility in order to qualify for home health.
FACT: Patients who have never been treated in a facility are still entitled to their Medicare Part A coverage of home health services including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, nursing, medical social work and home health aides as long as they qualify.
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MYTH 3: You must be diagnosed with an acute medical condition to receive Medicare Part A covered home health services.
FACT: As a home health company we specialize in treating geriatric, homebound patients with both acute AND chronic illnesses and conditions.
MYTH 4: You must be unable to leave your home in order to meet the homebound requirements for Medicare Part A home health services.
FACT: Patients receiving Medicare Part A covered home health services must be considered “homebound” which means any absences from the home must be infrequent, short in duration and require a taxing effort. Patients may leave the home in order to meet medical needs (i.e. doctor appointments, dialysis, wound clinics, etc.)
MYTH 5: Medicare Part B allows for more therapy visits than what will be provided through Medicare Part A covered home health therapy.
There is no limit to the amount of therapy a patient can receive through Medicare Part A covered home health. The frequency and duration of therapy is determined by the ordering physician based on the evaluation performed by the physical therapist, occupational therapist or speech therapist. Therapy may be performed daily if justified, reasonable and medically necessary.
