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Medicare Basics for Caregivers
Frequently Asked Questions
29. What is home health care, and will
Medicare cover the costs? - cont'd
If
a patient has Medicare, he or she can use the home health benefit
if all of the following conditions are met.
-
1.
The doctor must decide that the patient needs medical care at home
and makes a plan for this care.
-
2.
The patient must need one or more of the following services.
- intermittent skilled nursing
care
- physical therapy
- speech-language pathology
services
- continued occupational
therapy
-
3.
The home health agency selected must be approved by the Medicare
Program (Medicare-certified).
-
4.
The patient must be homebound or normally unable to leave home
unassisted. To be homebound means that leaving home takes
considerable effort. A person may leave home for medical treatment
or short, infrequent absences for non-medical reasons, such as a
trip to attend religious services. A person can still get home
health care if he or she attends adult day care.
(Answer continues on next page.)
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