FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
If you’re considering the use of a home health agency for the first time, you may find you have quite a few unanswered questions. The purpose of this section is to help you find some of those answers. If you do not find the information you need, please contact us.
- Why home health care?
- What is the process to obtain home health care?
- Isn’t home health care expensive?
- Who pays for these services?
- Can myself or a loved one really receive the care needed in the home?
- How long can a person receive home health care?
- Who monitors and supervises the care given?
- How is billing done?
Why home health care?
There is no place like home, especially when you are recuperating from an illness, hospital stay, or surgery. Being in your own home allows you control, privacy and safety. Home care promotes independence, provides one-on-one care and support, and eases pressure on the family.
What is the process to obtain home health care?
Your physician orders home care based upon a need for a skilled service such as nursing or rehabilitation therapy. A skilled service may be necessary to a patient when assistance and supervision is needed following an illness, a fall, surgery, hospitalization, treatment convalescence, as well as treatment itself such as home infusion therapy or home rehabilitation. The physician contacts our agency and issues the “Orders” to establish the Plan of Care. Upon the physician orders, a skilled nurse comes to the home to provide a thorough assessment. The skilled nurse then collaborates with the physician to develop a Plan of Care best tailored to the specific needs of you or your loved one. The treatment plan is discussed with you, the patient, and/or family, and care is ready to begin.
Isn’t home health care expensive?
Home health care costs are dependent on the level of care necessary such as amount and frequency of services needed. However, it is usually much lower than hospitals or long-term care facilities. Often the costs are buffered or completely covered by insurance.
Who pays for these services?
Payment varies from individual to individual. We find that while some of our clients cover their expenses privately, the vast majority qualifies either wholly or partially for coverage either by their insurance policy or government funded programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, VA Benefits. There are usually several criteria required such as being under the care of a physician, have a limited ability to leave home, and the type of care needed requires the skills of a nurse or therapist.
Can a loved one or myself really receive the care needed in the home?
The answer is Yes. Once it is determined that you or your loved one are candidates for home care and the physician orders the care, then your home care is initiated.
How long can a person receive home health care?
The length of time an individual can receive home care is dependent upon the individual’s insurance coverage and any rules or restrictions that may apply to their home health benefit. Each person varies on their service dependent on their needs. Some clients may require short term care while others may require long term care.
Who monitors and supervises the care given?
The care provided in the home to an individual is monitored and supervised by a team of professionals including your Physician and our agency’s Director of Nurses who oversees the staff providing the care inside the home. And, just as we monitor the care our staff provides, our agency in turn is monitored by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals as well as by our accrediting agency, CHAP, to insure we follow all standards when providing our patients with quality and safe health care.
How is billing done?
Family HomeCare direct bills all third-party payors or insurance programs. Our self-pay clients are billed directly on a bi-weekly basis.
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