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Milwaukee Office
(tel.)414-365-8300
(fax)414-365-8330
Hartford Office
(tel) 262-673-8400
(fax)262-673-8419
Touching Lives
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 



"After several visits, I didn’t want therapy to end. I was feeling better, stronger and motivated to do better because of Carla."
- Judy Fuchs

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS REGARDING COVERAGE 
FOR MEDICARE T-18 & MEDICAID T-19

(Please click on any question for answer.)

  • Who is eligible for home care services?
  • What are the qualifying conditions for home care?
  • What is meant by "homebound"?
  • What types of services are covered?
  • What are the limits to the provision of services?
  • What about coverage for medical equipment?
  • When is it appropriate for a client to receive hospice services?
  • What if the client requires care before the next scheduled visit?

  • Who is eligible for home care services?

    MEDICARE T-18: 
    Clients must be Medicare eligible. Medicare Part A offers 100% coverage

    MEDICAID T-19:
    Clients must meet income requirements. Cards issued monthly.

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    What are the qualifying conditions for home care?

    MEDICARE T-18:
    Clients must have a skilled and medically necessary need, be homebound, require skilled care on an intermittent basis and be under the care of a physician.

    MEDICAID T-19:
    Clients must be homebound for skilled services. Non-skilled and private duty services do not require home-bound status.

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    What is meant by "homebound"?

    MEDICARE T-18:
    A recipient is considered homebound if a considerable and taxing effort is required to leave home. If absences are infrequent and of short duration a recipient may still be considered homebound.

    MEDICAID T-19:
    Same as Medicare, unless the services could not reasonably be obtained from another provider.

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    What types of services are covered?

    MEDICARE T-18:
    Skilled professional services (i.e., skilled nursing; physical and speech therapies) required in order to qualify for occupational therapy, social worker or home health aide services. Skilled services can include "hands- on" care as well as assessment, observation and teaching. Medication set-up, when it is the only skilled need, is not covered. Services must be provided on an intermittent basis. Private duty services are not covered.

    MEDICAID T-19:
    Skilled services covered as in Medicare. A recipient may qualify for personal care worker or home health aide services without being homebound and without a skilled need. In addition, services can be provided in certain instances up to 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, e.g., ventilator dependent clients with a prior authorization. Medical social worker and teaching (when it is the only skilled need) are not covered. Medication set-up is covered when there is no other alternative.

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    What are the limits to the provision of services?

    MEDICARE T-18:
    Care is "physician-driven" and requires a doctor's order to initiate and recertify care every 60 days. Qualifying conditions must be met.

    MEDICAID T-19:
    Each client has a "bank" of 30 home health visits (to include all types of services) and 50 hours of personal care worker services per calendar year. Any additional services and all private duty require prior authorization.

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    What about coverage for medical equipment?

    MEDICARE T-18:
    Medical supplies used in the course of agency visits are covered according to Medicare guidelines under the homecare benefit. IV medications administered at home are generally not covered except for a few specific agents that are given as prolonged infusions.  Most medical equipment is covered under Medicare Part B.

    MEDICAID T-19:
    Disposable, consumable, expandable or nondurable medically necessary supplies are covered if necessary to carry out the plan of care. Prior authorization is required for certain items. A co-payment may be required to be paid by the recipient based on the established Medicaid guideline fee schedule.

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    When is it appropriate for a client to receive hospice services?

    MEDICARE T-18:
    Disposable, consumable, expandable or nondurable medically necessary supplies are covered if necessary to carry out the plan of care. Prior authorization is required for certain items. A co-payment may be required to be paid by the recipient based on the established Medicaid guideline fee schedule.

    MEDICAID T-19:
    Same as Medicare

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    What if the client requires care before the next scheduled visit?

    MEDICARE T-18:
    The Nurse Case Manager makes contact with physician for approval and follows up 
    with a written physician order. 
    A nurse is always on call at Horizon Home Care & Hospice, Inc.

    MEDICAID T-19:
    Same as Medicare, and additional Medicaid stipulations. 
    A nurse is always on call at Horizon Home Care & Hospice, Inc.

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    HORIZON HOME CARE & HOSPICE | SITE MAP | PRIVACY POLICY | CONTACT HHCH
    Milwaukee Office • 8949 N. Deerbrook Trail • Brown Deer, WI 53223 • (414) 365-8300 • FAX: (414) 365-8330
    Hartford Office • 110 Lone Oak Lane, Suite 300 • Hartford, WI 53027 • (262) 673-8400 • FAX: (262) 673-8419
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