Home Health Agency Services Explained

As a provider of home health agency services we are often asked if our agency provides therapy such as physical therapy (PT) or occupational therapy (OT). The fact of the matter is that home health agencies often choose to specialize in a few in-home health disciplines rather than attempting to successfully provide all senior care services under one roof. Bayshore Home Care is licensed to provide all in-home medical services, but as a matter of quality assurance, we have chosen to specialize in providing the following services:

  • Homemaking and meal prep.
  • Companionship
  • Transportation
  • Hygiene assistance
  • Medication management

Other agencies that  hold a home health agency license, choose to specialize in skilled nursing and/or rehabilitation therapy such as PT or OT.

The payment sources for each specialty also vary depending on the type of services. For example, non-medical and long term care services such as activates of daily living( ADLs)-dressing, feeding, bathing, toileting, ambulating, are not covered by Medicare or typical managed care providers. For patients in need of assistance with ADLs, they will need to pay for these services out-of-pocket, have VA benefits or have a long-term care insurance policy.

Home health agencies that provide skilled nursing or therapy services are able to bill Medicare and managed care providers for their services. These skilled services are considered therapeutic and are not classified as long term care.

DO HOME HEALTH AGENCIES WORK TOGETHER?

Yes! When two agencies, that provide different specialties work together, patient care is at it’s best. Non-medical and medical home health care is what most elderly patients need when they first return home from a hospitalization. Family members are often burned out with the duties of keeping up the household and the additional needs of their loved one. Hospitals typically refer patients to in-home skilled nursing and therapy services because these are covered by insurance for a period of time, but hospitals rarely take the time to refer patients to non-medical home health agencies to help with their daily care needs.

Working with a private duty home care agency to provide for your loved one’s daily care needs is worth it’s weight in gold, but don’t take our word for it. Find out by hearing what our clients have to say.