Medicare Requirements

Medicare requires the following to pay for

Home Health Care services:

You are Homebound
- Homebound means that your illness or injury makes it extremely difficult for you to leave your home and that your absences are infrequent and of short duration. Confused? You're still considered homebound if you leave home:
  - To attend a religious service.
  - To receive health care treatment, including regular treatment in a state licensed/certified and/or accredited adult day-care program.
  - To attend unique special events, such as a family reunion, funeral or graduation.
- If you are able to drive, then you probably don't meet the homebound requirement.
- Most other health insurance plans follow the Medicare guidelines.

You've had a recent illness or injury
- that requires Skilled Nursing Care on an intermittent basis OR
- Physical therapy
- Speech-language pathology OR
- a continuing need for Occupational therapy

You are an Eligible Medicare Beneficiary
- under the care of a doctor who has ordered the treatment or services Panhandle Home Health provides.

Care is provided on an intermittent basis
- Medicare will not pay for our health care staff to stay with you for an extended period of time.
- Panhandle Home Health visits you for the length of time it takes to provide specific treatments ordered by your doctor.

If all these requirements are met, Medicare will also pay for medically-necessary Medical Social services, Home Health Aides and medical supplies.

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