Does Your Loved One Qualify for Home Health Services?

It can be hard to accept that your parents, grandparents or loved ones may not be able to take care of themselves like they used to. No matter how much you love them, you can’t be there to watch after them day after day — and there’s nothing wrong with that! Home Health services by Pallatus can provide the compassionate care your loved one deserves to help them live full, vibrant and safe lives while homebound.

Signs it may be time to consider home health services

Any family member considering Home Health for their loved one may wonder when it’s needed. Every patient is different, and you know your loved one better than anyone. However, asking yourself these questions can help determine whether it may be time to implement Home Health services:

• Does your loved one struggle to fully understand their diagnosis?
• Does your loved one struggle to fully understand how to manage their condition?
• Does your loved one have a new or worsening condition?
• Does your loved one have a history of falls or balance issues?
• Does your loved one have multiple medications to manage?
• Has your loved one had recent or multiple hospitalizations?
• Has your loved one had a recent, unusual weight change (gain or lost)?

If you answered “yes” to two or more of the above questions, it could be time to consider Home Health services. It is important to note that different forms of insurance, such as Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance, have different criteria for whether or not a patient qualifies for Home Health care.

Medicare Primary Qualifications

• The patient is willing and able to participate in their care program.
• The patient requires intermittent skilled care services, such as nursing, physical therapy, speech therapy or continued occupational therapy.
• The patient is homebound, meaning that leaving home unassisted is generally unsafe. If the patient does leave home, it is infrequent and for short durations.
• The patient remains under the direct care of the physician who signed off on Home Health services.
• The patient has seen the physician or practitioner within 90 days.

Medicaid Primary Qualifications

• The patient requires intermittent skilled care services, such as nursing, physical therapy, or speech therapy
• The patient has a new or worsening condition.
• The patient remains under the care of the physician who signed off on Home Health services.
• The patient has seen their physician within 30 days.

Private Insurance

• The patient requires one or more intermittent skilled care services, such as nursing or rehabilitation.
• The patient remains under the care of the physician who signed off on Home Health services.
• The patient can afford the coinsurance and/or copays associated with their plan.
• The patient meets any additional criteria their private insurance requires.

Learn more about Home Health services with Pallatus by calling us today. If you or a loved one are dealing with a new or worsening condition, contact Pallatus Health to see if our integrative approach to palliative care can help you along the journey.

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If you or a loved one are dealing with a chronic, potentially-terminal condition, contact Pallatus Health today to see if our integrative approach to palliative care can help you along the journey.