Choosing a Home Health Service

The home health service should provide a pre-care visit to assess what services are needed. If home health services have been requested by your doctor the service should contact the physician and obtain your medical records and discuss your case with the physician.

The service should send an R.N. to the hospital or your home to meet the patient and personally discuss the services to be provided. A written estimate of weekly costs should be provided before service starts. Home health care is a very personal service and the company should make an effort to provide people who will get along well with the patient, as well as, provide professional care.

What forms of payment are accepted? Basically there are four types of payments which may be used in combination to pay for home health services.

• Medicare reimbursement.
• Private insurance through your employer, health maintenance organization or insurance you have purchased.
• Direct payment by the patient.
• Public aid.

All services do not handle all types of payment. If the patient is eligible for public aid or Medicare, ask what forms of payment they will accept.

Some services will help verify your insurance coverage with your carrier, assist you with claim forms and provide all necessary documentation to insure prompt reimbursement to you. Find out if the service has an insurance specialist on staff or someone who is knowledgeable to assist you.

When in doubt, ask questions and make sure you are comfortable with the people providing your care. Make sure you have the name of the supervisor or manager who handles complaints and know how to reach that person.

Are all personnel employees of the company or under contract to the home health service?

Are all employees bonded?

Are all employees insured against malpractice and injury while in your home?

Are employees screened and test for appropriate skills and reference checked?

Is there someone available to fill in if your regular nurse is ill or away?

Is a supervisor available 24 hours to handle problems?

Are supervisory visits made by a Registered Nurse to insure your satisfaction and monitor patient progress?

Will the service coordinate other services, such as medical equipment needs?

Will the service guarantee your satisfaction and make adjustments for problems?

If you are arranging service for someone else, will the service provide you with written progress reports?