The Home Care Solution: Questions to Ask a Home Health Care Provider
- Is the home health care agency Medicare-certified? That means it is approved to provide services to patients with Medicare.
- Does the home health care agency offer a full range of home health care services including skilled nursing, physical, occupational and speech therapies, IV therapy and home health aides?
- How do I receive home health care agency services? A referral can be made by anyone involved in a patient’s care – physician, family or others. If someone other than a physician makes referrals, many home health care agencies contact the patient’s physician to approve orders for service.
- Does the hospital discharge planner, doctor or social worker recommend the home health care agency? Those recommendations can serve as a second reference.
- Does the home health care agency have the staff available at night and on weekends for emergencies?
- Where else could I find information about Medicare-Certified home health care agencies?
- Does the home health care agency have staff available to provide the type of hours of care as prescribed by the physician?
Information about Medicare-certified agencies in your geographic area are available online at www.medicare.gov, including Home Health Compare, which allows you to compare the home health care agencies in your area. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE for more information.