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1. How do I find home care services?
Finding the home care provider best suited for your needs requires research, but is time well spent. Important factors include the quality of care, availability of needed services, personnel training and expertise, and coverage provided by the payer. Before starting a search, it is important to determine which types of services you need. You may wish to consult with your physician, a hospital discharge planner, or a social service organization (such as Area Agency on Aging) for assistance in evaluating your needs. Once you have completed this assessment, you will be able to identify the type of home care provider most appropriate to assist you.
2. What should be considered when choosing a home health agency?
When choosing a home health care agency, you should thoroughly check out the agency before signing any contract or agreement. You should ask the following questions: • What counties does the agency provide services in? • Does the agency offer specialized services? • Have any complaints been confirmed against the agency in the past two (2) years? • Can the agency receive payments from Medicare or Medical Assistance? • What is the agency's compliance history with state and federal regulations?
3. Where can I find additional information about a home health agency's services?
To determine the agency's compliance history with state and federal regulations, you may review the agency's survey history by electronically accessing the Department of Health's survey site by clicking here, then choose the county where the home health agency is located.
4. Who pays for home health care services? Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans may pay for services that licensed home health agencies deliver. Payment from these sources depends on whether the care is medically necessary and the individual meets specific coverage criteria. Individuals may opt to pay out-of-pocket for services that are not covered by other sources. Some agencies receive special funding from state and local governments and community organizations to cover the costs of care when other options are not available.
5. Does OVHH only work with seniors?
We work with all age groups with the health care services being based on need rather than age. Elderly care is just one of the many fine services we offer.
6. Do I have to pay for services?
We are not a volunteer service and our fees for your services would be discussed with you at the time of the nurse assessment.
7. How do I pay for services?
There are various payment sources for services and these would also be discussed with you at the time of the nurse assessment. Payment sources could be Medicare, Medical Assistance (Medicaid), private insurance, workman’s compensation or we can bill you privately for services.
8. How do I know the people providing the service are honest?
All of our staff has gone through an interview, references checked and we have a thorough criminal background check completed.
9. As long as my doctor orders it, Medicare will pay for it. Right?
Not always- you need to meet the requirements of Medicare; that is, you must require skilled service (skilled nursing or physical, occupational or speech therapies), you need to be homebound and of course, your doctor needs to order the services. This is an important preparation tool for all senior retirement concerns.
10. I don’t need a nurse. Can I get help just to do my cleaning or shopping and errands?
Of course. OVHH Passport and Homemaker services are here to help with housecleaning, linen change, laundry, grocery shopping or preparation of meals.
11. What about help with personal care, such as bathing and dressing?
OVHH offers all three of these personal care services. This would be discussed with you at the time of the initial nurse assessment. At OVHH, you assist in devising your own senior care management plan.
12. Do services cost more on weekends or in the evening?
OVHH has the same rate on weekends and evenings. However, there are seven holidays a year where the rate is 1.5 times the normal rate.
Finding the home care provider best suited for your needs requires research, but is time well spent. Important factors include the quality of care, availability of needed services, personnel training and expertise, and coverage provided by the payer. Before starting a search, it is important to determine which types of services you need. You may wish to consult with your physician, a hospital discharge planner, or a social service organization (such as Area Agency on Aging) for assistance in evaluating your needs. Once you have completed this assessment, you will be able to identify the type of home care provider most appropriate to assist you.
2. What should be considered when choosing a home health agency?
When choosing a home health care agency, you should thoroughly check out the agency before signing any contract or agreement. You should ask the following questions: • What counties does the agency provide services in? • Does the agency offer specialized services? • Have any complaints been confirmed against the agency in the past two (2) years? • Can the agency receive payments from Medicare or Medical Assistance? • What is the agency's compliance history with state and federal regulations?
3. Where can I find additional information about a home health agency's services?
To determine the agency's compliance history with state and federal regulations, you may review the agency's survey history by electronically accessing the Department of Health's survey site by clicking here, then choose the county where the home health agency is located.
4. Who pays for home health care services? Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans may pay for services that licensed home health agencies deliver. Payment from these sources depends on whether the care is medically necessary and the individual meets specific coverage criteria. Individuals may opt to pay out-of-pocket for services that are not covered by other sources. Some agencies receive special funding from state and local governments and community organizations to cover the costs of care when other options are not available.
5. Does OVHH only work with seniors?
We work with all age groups with the health care services being based on need rather than age. Elderly care is just one of the many fine services we offer.
6. Do I have to pay for services?
We are not a volunteer service and our fees for your services would be discussed with you at the time of the nurse assessment.
7. How do I pay for services?
There are various payment sources for services and these would also be discussed with you at the time of the nurse assessment. Payment sources could be Medicare, Medical Assistance (Medicaid), private insurance, workman’s compensation or we can bill you privately for services.
8. How do I know the people providing the service are honest?
All of our staff has gone through an interview, references checked and we have a thorough criminal background check completed.
9. As long as my doctor orders it, Medicare will pay for it. Right?
Not always- you need to meet the requirements of Medicare; that is, you must require skilled service (skilled nursing or physical, occupational or speech therapies), you need to be homebound and of course, your doctor needs to order the services. This is an important preparation tool for all senior retirement concerns.
10. I don’t need a nurse. Can I get help just to do my cleaning or shopping and errands?
Of course. OVHH Passport and Homemaker services are here to help with housecleaning, linen change, laundry, grocery shopping or preparation of meals.
11. What about help with personal care, such as bathing and dressing?
OVHH offers all three of these personal care services. This would be discussed with you at the time of the initial nurse assessment. At OVHH, you assist in devising your own senior care management plan.
12. Do services cost more on weekends or in the evening?
OVHH has the same rate on weekends and evenings. However, there are seven holidays a year where the rate is 1.5 times the normal rate.