What is Home Health Care?

Home health care refers to a wide variety of health and support services delivered to patients in their homes. Home Health care patients include persons recovering from an injury, new mothers and their newborns, children, disabled workers and persons of any age who are recovering from or experiencing an acute illness.

Home Care Includes, but is Not Limited to:

For patients requiring home making and personal care services, home health and personal care aides are also available. Together, we are able to deliver cost effective services by reducing hospital stays and preventing or delaying institutionalized care.

How Does Home Health Care Work?

Step 1 ― Diagnosis
Following an office visit or hospital stay, your physician decides that home care is required.
Step 2 ― Discussing Options
Together with your physician and family, you decide on the right services and the right home care agency for your special needs.
Step 3 ― Developing a Plan
An Alpine Home Health representative comes to your home, evaluates your needs, and develops an overall care strategy and submits it to your doctor for final approval. This plan might also included suggestions regarding social service, dietary needs (i.e. Meals on Wheels), etc.
Step 4 ― Your Home Care Visits
Each care program is strictly supervised by a registered nurse or physical therapist to assure your health needs are being met on a continuous basis. Your physician and Alpine Home Health work together to monitor progress and determine if and when changes to the care plan are necessary.

Who Pays for Home Health Care?

Covering the cost of quality home care is easier than you think. As a private, licensed home health care agency, Alpine Home Health is authorized to bill third party insurance such as; Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Managed Care, Medicaid and Medicare. As needed, we can also bill the patient directly. Payment methods include:

Medicare
As a CHHA (Certified Home Health Agency), Alpine Home Health is federally regulated and therefore able to bill Medicare for services rendered to patients. Patients qualify for Medicare coverage by being homebound, under the care of a physician and in need of one of the following skilled services: nursing, physical therapy, speech-language pathology or occupational therapy. Patients needing only personal or custodial (non-skilled) care will not qualify for Medicare home health benefits, but may be assessed for eligibility of Non-Skilled Home Care Services.
Medicaid
This coverage will pay for patients requiring skilled or maintenance nursing care and/or rehabilitation services under physician’s orders—even if they are not homebound.
Other Insurance
Most private insurance companies will pay for home health care. Alpine Home Health will verify each patient’s coverage.
Private Pay (Out-of-pocket)
Of course, individuals and their families may also pay privately for any home health care services.
How to Assure Eligibility
Referrals can be made directly from the physician, hospital, patient or family or the community. For specific eligibility questions, contact Alpine Home Health’s referral specialists at the office located nearest you. Please click here for a list of all Alpine Home Health offices, addresses and phone numbers.