What is home health?

Home health care constitutes a variety of skilled, clinical services that can be given in the comfort of your own home, typically after an illness or injury. Explore our "Home Services" tab at the top to learn more about the services Premier Point Home Health has to offer.

What is the difference between home health and private duty assistance?

Certified home health care is provided by skilled nurses and therapists and is overseen by a patient’s physician. Private duty assistance is a service for patients who need help with day-to-day activities such as bathing, dressing, and meal preparation. Private duty care is not covered by Medicare or most commercial insurance companies, and is typically an out-of-pocket expense for a patient.

Who is eligible for home health care?

Medicare considers patients who are under the care of a physician, have a need for nursing, physical therapy, speech therapy, or occupational therapy, and are homebound eligible to receive home health care. The requirements for commercial insurance plans may vary, and patients can check their insurance company for the home health requirements specific to their plan.

What is a homebound patient?

A patient is considered homebound if, due to illness or injury, leaving home requires a considerable taxing effort. A patient leaving the home for doctor’s appointments, adult day-care services, funerals, or church services does not disqualify them from being considered homebound.

What are the advantages of home health care?

Home health significantly reduces the risk of unnecessary or avoidable hospitalizations, and in turn reduces overall health care costs. With less time spent in the hospital, a patient will reduce their risk of contracting additional illness or infection. Home health care can allow a patient to live independently at home for a longer period of time, granting them the comfort of familiar surroundings and their regular daily routine. Additionally, with the one-on-one interactions with clinicians that home health affords, a patient will find their needs met faster and will receive more personalized care.

Is home health care costly?

Provided a patient’s care is under the supervision of a physician and the patient meets the homebound requirement, Medicare may cover the full cost of home health care. Commercial insurance coverage may vary, but if a patient is to incur out-of-pocket expenses, they will be informed prior to receiving care.

How can I initiate services?

In order to initiate home health care, your physician must order the services you need. Our Premier Point Home Health Referral Intake Form for your physician can be found here. For Medicare patients, a face-to-face visit between you and your physician must be made between 90 days before and 30 days after your start of care.

What can I expect on my first home health visit?

Once the intake process is complete, our Premier Point Staffing Coordinator will work to schedule your clinicians at a time that is convenient for you. For your first visit, the clinician initializing your care (typically a nurse) will go over your specific needs and develop a plan of care personalized to your goals.

How do I choose the right home health agency?

It is important that you have confidence that your home health agency has the ability to deliver the quality of care that you deserve. An agency’s license, accreditation, and Medicare rating are all indicators of the level of care the agency is able to provide. Check out our blog for a detailed guide to choosing a home health agency.