Medicare patients qualify for home health if they are restricted in their ability to leave home and there is a need for skilled nursing or physical therapy or speech therapy.

A patient who qualifies for home health may:

• require assistance of another person
• use a supportive device such as a cane or walker
• leave their home as needed for medical treatment
• leave their home only infrequently and not for long periods of time
• leave their home against medical judgment
• generally leaving the home requires a taxing effort

A patient may need skilled nursing for:

• Recent hospitalization or stay in a skilled nursing facility
• Primary caregiver has changed recently and has a knowledge deficiency
• New or exacerbated DX
• New medication in the last 30 days
• Medication changes in the last 60 days
• Need for care that must be performed by a nurse
• IV Therapy
• Chemo Therapy
• Wound Care
• Diabetic Care
• Urinary catheter care
• Medication administration (non-oral)
• Parenteral / Enteral nutrition
• New Colostomy / ileostomy

A patient may need Physical, Occupational, or Speech Therapy for:

• Recent decline in functional status such as
• Ambulation
• Speech
• Endurance/Strength
• Recent
• Falls
• Fractures
• Stroke