Medicare coverage for HealthBack Home Health Services is
available to persons 65 and older, disabled patients or other
patients who meet Medicare eligibility requirements and who also
meet homebound status criteria. Care is provided on an
intermittent basis. The patient’s physician must prescribe each
service needed.
For services to be covered by Medicare there are 4 conditions
that must be met:
1. Patient must be Medicare eligible.
2. Home health agency must participate with Medicare.
3. The physician determines that you need home health care. The
physician orders home health services and determines a plan to
meet your needs. The services ordered must be skilled services,
such as skilled nursing, physical therapy or speech therapy.
4. Patient must meet homebound status criteria.
Homebound Status Criteria
• Patient cannot drive
• Patient may make infrequent trips outside of the home if it
requires a taxing effort to leave the home.
• Patient can be assisted to medical appointments
“I know I need to have
lab work done, but I can’t get out of the house because…..”
HealthBack will complete a phlebotomy visit that includes an
assessment. We will call abnormal assessment findings to your
physician and also provide you with a copy of the lab report.
(This service is covered by Medicare if, provided in conjunction
with a qualifying skilled visit)
“My Medicare home
health therapist said that I have reached my maximum potential,
so they will no longer be seeing me at home. I still want to
have the therapist come by occasionally to see me just to make
sure I am doing OK.”
HealthBack can send skilled therapists or nurses to the home on
a private pay basis to help maintain your current level of
functioning.
“My Medicare home
health staff will be discharging me from their services next
week. Who will give my husband his bath? I am too weak to do it
myself. I am afraid he will fall!”
HealthBack can provide bath visits on a private pay basis as
often as requested.
“I need someone to
take me to the store and my appointments, and I need help with
cleaning my house. I can’t drive anymore, and my house is a
mess.”
HealthBack has trained homemakers/companions who can provide
these services. With private pay and some private insurance
plans these services may be covered. Also, some Long Term Care
Insurance plans may include these benefits.
“My father lives in
Tulsa and I live in Ardmore. He tells me that he is doing OK
when we talk on the phone, but I just don’t believe him. He
seems more confused. Can you go to his house and check on him?”
HealthBack can send a nurse to the patient’s home to do periodic
assessments and communicate the findings with the family. E-mail
correspondence is always welcomed. With private pay and some
private insurance plans these services may be covered, including
some Long Term Care insurance plans.
“Uncle Joe placed an
add in the newspaper for someone to take care of his wife at
home. Now this person has disappeared suddenly. We found jewelry
and signed checks missing, plus there is no one to care for his
wife.”
HealthBack is a licensed, bonded and insured home care agency.
All staff is screened for state criminal background. We are
licensed, bonded and insured for your peace of mind. For your
financial protection there is never an exchange of money with
the staff member.
“Are your services
covered by my group insurance?”
HealthBack is contracted with most major medical health plans,
which means your plan is probably one of them. You can find out
if HealthBack is supported by your health plan by calling
1-877-451-0538.
