Home Care Resources

Think about ordering home care or nursing services for patients who do not seem to do well at home. Examples of these patients may include your poorly controlled hypertensives, diabetics, or patients who get hospitalized or visit the ER frequently.

Other patients who may be eligible include:

• elderly with poor family support

• patients with dementia or organic mental syndrom

• patients with neuro deficits from CVA

• patients with advanced heart, liver, renal diseases

• terminally ill patients

• elderly with poor gait/evidence of neglect or abuse/malnutrition

• patients with wounds

• What is  a home attendant. A home attendant is someone that can assist only with personal care and chores. They have no health care training, and therefore can not help administer medicines or load pill boxes. They are able to shop, cook, and do chores like laundry for the patient.  A M11Q form needs to be filled to obtain this level of home care. This form spells out the actual care needs and functional capacity of the patient. It is considered a physician order. Home attendant service is only reimbursed by Medicaid, not medicare.

• What is a home health aide- this person always works with a skilled nurse or a physical therapist. Home health aides have some health care training background. For example, they can load insulin syringes but can not administer the shots. They can take and record vitals.  This service usually comes when a patient has visiting nurse service. A yearly M11Q, in addition to the quarterly VNS 485 form will need to be signed.   This service is covered by most commercial Insurances/Medicare and Medicaid.  Medicare will provide up to 4 hrsx5days, where as Medicaid may occasionally pay for up to 12-24 hrs depending on the severity of need.

• Skill Home Nursing services

• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) http://cms.hhs.gov

• www.medicare.gov/HHCompare

• NYC Home Care Complaint Line 212-360-2400