Getting started
How home health care starts — and what it costs.
If a doctor has recommended home health care, here is what it means, who qualifies under Medicare, and what to expect from the first visit on.
What home health is
Skilled care brought to the home, on a schedule your physician sets.
Home health is a set of intermittent skilled visits — nursing or therapy — delivered in your own home and ordered by a physician. A clinician comes to you for scheduled visits, carries out the plan of care your doctor signs, and documents what changes between visits.
It is not 24/7 caregiving: home health is visit-based, not someone in the home around the clock. It is also not hospice, which is comfort care at the end of life — home health is care aimed at recovery and managing a condition at home.
Want the categories side by side? See home health vs. home care vs. hospice.
Who qualifies under Medicare
Medicare home health has three basic requirements. The doctor certifies that you meet them.
A physician's order
A doctor orders home health care and signs a plan of care.
A skilled, intermittent need
You need skilled care — nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy — on an intermittent basis, not around the clock.
Homebound status
You are homebound: leaving home takes considerable and taxing effort.
What it costs
For eligible patients, Medicare pays for covered home health visits.
Home health visits are covered by Medicare for eligible patients with a physician's order. No surprise bills for covered care.
Under Original Medicare, there is no copay for covered home health visits. If you have Medicare Advantage or another type of coverage, plans differ — call us and we'll check your coverage before care starts, so there are no surprises.
The first visit
From referral to your first scheduled visit, here is the order things happen in. We respond to referrals the same day.
Referral received
Your physician or a discharge planner sends us the order. We respond the same day.
Intake call to the family
Our intake staff calls to confirm details, answer questions, and schedule the first visit.
Nurse assessment visit at home
A nurse visits to assess needs in the home and review the plan of care with you.
Visit schedule begins
Regular visits start and continue per the plan of care your doctor signed.
Ready to start
Tell us about your situation and we'll take it from there.
Call (626) 461-5271 or request care and our intake staff will follow up. Are you a physician or discharge planner? See how to send a referral.