Frequently Asked Questions

What is Home Health Care?

Home health care is an essential part of healthcare today, touching the lives of nearly every individual. Home Health Care includes a broad range of professional healthcare and support services provided in the home. As hospital stays decrease, increasing numbers of patients need highly-skilled services when they return home. Home health is necessary when a person needs ongoing care that cannot easily or effectively be provided solely by family and friends. Home health services include assisting those persons who are recovering, disabled, chronically or terminally ill and are in need of medical, nursing, social, or therapeutic treatment and/or assistance with the essential activities of daily living.

What is a home health agency?

A home health agency often indicates that a homecare provider is Medicare certified. A Medicare-certified agency has met federal minimum requirements for patient care and management and therefore can provide Medicare and Medicaid home health services. Individuals requiring skilled home healthcare services usually receive their care from a home health agency. Due to regulatory requirements, services provided by these agencies are highly supervised and controlled. Some agencies deliver a variety of homecare services through physicians, nurses, therapists, social workers, homemakers and HCAs, durable medical equipment and supply dealers, and volunteers. Other home health agencies limit their services to nursing and one or two other specialties. Personnel are assigned according to the needs of each patient.

Why Choose Southland Home Care?

Choosing the right home health agency is a major decision. Before you select a home health agency, it is important to know all the facts. The following is a list of questions that will help you make your selection and see if our home health agency is the one that best suits your needs.

What services does Southland Home Care provide?

Services provided by Southland Home Care are: skilled nursing, home health aide services, and wound care. Please visit our services page for details.

Who can receive home health services?

People of all ages with acute and chronic healthcare needs can receive home health services. Home health is for persons who require healthcare from a professional or who need supportive assistance in the home environment. The payer(s) for these services typically determines what type of care is covered and who qualifies. In most cases medical orders from a physician are required for care. It is best to call our office and ask for assistance, if you are still unsure if you are eligible.

When are home health services available?

Home health services provided by Southland Home Care are usually available 24-hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year depending on the needs of the patient.

Will my insurance cover home health?

If the care is medically necessary and the patient meets certain coverage requirements then Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance plans will usually pay for home healthcare services. Medicaid coverage varies depending on the state in which you reside and of course, different private insurance carriers have different policies. For services that are not covered, patients may choose to pay out of their own pocket. Community groups subsidize some agencies and some receive funding from local and state government to assist patients in paying for their care when they have no available resources.

How do I know I am choosing the right home health agency?

There are many important factors to consider in choosing the best agency to meet your needs. First, assess what types of services you will need, do we offer those services? Second, ask our agency about our accreditations, licenses and certifications.

What do I do if there is a problem with my home health agency or caretaker?

If you've selected our home health agency carefully, you'll most likely receive high-quality, safe, and effective homecare. If a problem develops or if you would like to issue a complaint, notify our agency administrator or chief supervisor right away. You may also issue a complaint to your state's department of health, Medicare hotline or your local Better Business Bureau.

What are my rights as a patient?

Federal law dictates that all home healthcare patients be informed of their rights and responsibilities. Southland Home Care will provide you with a summary of patient's rights and responsibilities that are consistent with state laws.

What if I want to compare different home health agencies?

You can use Medicare's "Home Health Compare" tool on the Website to compare home health agencies in your area. Visit www.medicare.gov, in "Search Tools," select "Compare Home Health Agencies in Your Area." You can compare home health agencies by the types of services they offer and the quality of care they provide. Home Health Compare provides the following information:

• Name, address and telephone number of the agency.
• Services offered by the agency (such as nursing care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology services, medical/social services, and home health aide services).
• Initial date of the agency's Medicare certification.
• Type of ownership (for-profit, government, nonprofit).
• Information about the quality of care provided by the agency (quality measures).

What Does Homebound Mean?

There is a normal inability to leave home without a considerable and taxing effort. Your physician may certify you homebound due to a medical condition limiting your ability to drive for a short period of time. The need for supportive devices in conjunction with physical limitations is taken into consideration when considering homebound status. Status is not affected by frequent absences from home for medical care that cannot be provided in the home. Patient is allowed brief and infrequent absences from home for non-medical reasons. Not met when there are frequent absences from home for non-medical reasons. Not met when the patient is able to drive a car. A patient with a psychiatric disorder can be considered homebound if it is considered unsafe for the patient to leave home. Note: A patient's inability to drive does not make him/her homebound.

How Do I Get Home Health?

You must contact your physician who will arrange for a home health evaluation to see if you qualify for in-home care. There is no charge to either you or Medicare for an evaluation if you do not qualify.

What Other Services Are Available?

If you are already receiving a qualifying "Skilled Service" (such as skilled nursing), additional services may also be available to you such as: Home Health Aide: After the level of care is established by a Registered Nurse, the aide may help with bathing and grooming, dressing, transfers from bed to chair, help walking or with artificial limbs. An aide may provide light housekeeping services for the patient (such as bed linen changes), or prepare and feed nutritious meals. While the aide is not allowed to administer medicines (this is the job of an RN), the HHA may provide reminders to take medicines on time.