Posted on: November 16, 2018 by Manchester Specialty
Home care involves a wide range of services for individuals who are ill or recovering from an illness or surgery. Services include nursing care; physical, speech, occupational and other rehabilitative therapy; medication administration; monitoring; medical-social services, and medical equipment. Other non-health care services include personal care, which involves assistance with personal hygiene, dressing, getting in and out of a bed or chair, bathing, and exercise. Nutrition, homemaking and social and safety services, including transportation services and companionship, are also services available from home care agencies.
Medicare Part A and/or Part B helps pay for home care for those individuals who are under the care of doctors who accept Medicare assignment, are homebound, have been certified by their physicians that they need in-home health care with a plan created by the health-care provider, and whose care is provided by a Medicare-certified home care agency. Medicare will typically cover in-home skilled nursing services; home health care assistance as long as skilled nursing services are also needed; physical, speech and/or occupational therapy services that are necessary for treating the illness or injury; medical social services ordered by the doctor to help with social and emotional concerns related to the patient’s health condition; certain medical supplies provided by a Medicare-certified home health agency; and durable medical equipment, such as a wheelchair or walker.
According to the most recent statistics available, there are 12,600 Medicare-certified home health agencies throughout the United States serving five million seniors and younger adults.
Individuals receiving home care services must be legally informed of their rights as a patient. Non-compliance of patient rights not only violates the law but also jeopardizes patient care and makes home care agencies vulnerable to professional liability exposures, cyber threats, and other risks. Patient rights include:
Manchester Specialty provides a total business insurance solution for home care firms, including home health care, companion care, visiting nurse associations (VNAs) and in-home hospice providers. We can help you provide the following insurance lines to your clients: General Liability, Professional Liability, Workers’ Compensation, Management Liability, Cyber Liability and Non-Owned & Hired Auto insurance, among other key coverages. For more information about how we can help you protect your insureds, please contact us at 855.972.9399.
Posted in: Home Healthcare Providers