The home health benefit is one of the least understood and utilized benefits available to you under the Medicare program. Unfortunately, it is not so easy to qualify. You must be homebound and in need of home health services, the services must be reasonable and medically necessary, and they must be prescribed by your doctor. If you qualify, you can receive up to thirty-five hours of free skilled nursing and therapy services each week.
However, once you meet the eligibility criteria, you must also qualify for coverage. Your doctor must certify that the prescribed services are both reasonable and necessary, and the physician should be able to direct you to a home health agency for a home health care assessment. If you are hospitalized and being discharged to home, be sure to ask the hospital social worker or discharge planner to arrange for an in-home care assessment prior to your discharge.
The home health benefit is available at no cost, with no premium and no deductible. It is available under Part B of the Medicare coverage, so you must qualify for Part B in order to obtain it. Also the home health agency cannot bill you for a Medicare covered service.
As we all know, home is the best place to be, especially after a hospital stay.
By: Hyman G. Darling, Esquire
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