home health

Introduction

also see home care

Indications

• Medicare part A
  • assistance with transfers
  • difficulty walking, shortness of breath while walking
  • need of assistance from health professional
    • nurse, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy

* home health services are covered by Medicare only if the patient meets eligibility criteria for homebound status

• medical contraindication to leaving home
• illness or injury than prevents patient from leaving home without a support device, special transportation, or personal assistance
• typically unable to leave home, requires considerable & taxing effort to do so

Contraindications

• drawing blood for laboratory testing is not an indication for home health, unless part of a care plan to manage a recently unstable medical condition
• need for hoe health aide is not an indication for home health services under Medicare part A

Notes

The Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) is a tool meant to set fees for home health-related groups (HHRGs).

The OASIS instrument is completed by the home-health agency; it tracks patient's functional status & medical needs

The HHRGs provide a basis for home health reimbursement

Medicare part A covers some home health (see above)

Medicare part B may cover some home health

Local home health agencies can be compared

More general terms

• health

Additional terms

• home care
• home safety
• house call bag
• Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)