Care with Medicare

To get Medicare home health care:
• Your doctor must decide that you need medical care in your home, and make a plan for your care at home.
• You must need at least one of the following: intermittent (and not full time) skilled nursing care, or physical
   therapy or speech language pathology services.
• You must be homebound. This means that you are normally unable to leave home. Being homebound
   means that leaving home is a major effort. When you leave home, it must be infrequent, for a short time,
   or to get medical care, attend adult day care, religious services.
• The home health agency caring for you must be approved by the Medicare program.

The Original Medicare Plan covers these home health care services
• Part-Time or Intermittent Skilled Nursing Care
• Part-Time or Intermittent Home Health Aide Services
• Physical and Occupational Therapy
• Speech Language Pathology Services
• Medical Social Services
• Medical Supplies (not drugs or biologicals)
• Durable Medical Equipment

*The Original Medicare Plan usually pays 80% of the approved amount for certain pieces of medical equipment. You may have to pay 20% of the approved amount for durable medical equipment.

It is important to remember that Medicare only pays for home health services that are given by Mercer Health Home Health that meets Medicare's quality standards and is approved by Medicare. Medicare regularly inspects Mercer Health Home Health to make sure that these standards are met.

What does Medicare cover?

Medicare covers these services and pays nearly all of their costs:
• Doctor services
• Nursing care
• Medical equipment (such as wheelchairs or walkers)
• Medical supplies (such as bandages and catheters)
• Drugs for symptom control and pain relief
• Home health aide and homemaker services
• Physical and occupational therapy
• Speech therapy
• Social worker services
• Dietary counseling

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