FAQ

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.

In many cases, home health care permits a person to be discharged earlier from a hospital, reduces hospital admissions, and assists with a more rapid recovery.  Most importantly, people are happier at home and receive more care and attention from family, friends, and home health care professionals.

Services provided by a home healthcare agency vary depending upon the agency. First Call Home Health services range from skilled nursing, physical, occupational and speech-language therapy, home health aide services, and medical social services to our community based holistic program.  Our holistic program was developed to help support patients in addressing the emotional and spiritual aspects of their care.

Getting confused about what kind of professional caregivers are available to you? There are two basic types of care in the home—one is home health and the other is home care, also sometimes referred to as in-home care or private duty. The biggest difference between home health and home care is that home health is a higher level of care that is deemed medically necessary by a physician. Home health is provided by licensed clinicians. These clinicians provide services such as wound care, medication management, disease management, therapeutic rehabilitation and other licensed services. Home care on the other hand includes things such as light housekeeping, meal preparation and transportation.

The services you receive are prescribed by your physician. In most cases, your doctor will recommend home health care. From there, a nurse or therapist is sent from the agency, and along with the doctor, will determine what services would benefit the patient the most.

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.

Please see our insurance list for companies we currently work with

People of all ages with acute and chronic healthcare needs can receive home healthcare services. Home healthcare 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. Please give us a call for more information and we would be happy to help.

Anyone who has recently experienced a change in medication or health condition, had a recent or past hospitalization, and has a difficulty leaving the home may qualify for home health.

Common reasons for home care include:

• Wound Care
• Physical Therapy
• Requiring professional help in understanding and managing personal health care

You may be considered “homebound” if you have difficulty leaving home by yourself, require assistance to leave home, and do no leave home frequently, due to your medical condition. The nurse or therapist will determine your homebound status as part of the initial assessment visit.

First Call covers a 60 mile radius from our office in Salem, Oregon, Please reference our map below for specific areas.