In Austin, Medicare home hospice care provides critical services to patients who are confined to their homes.
Medicare benefits fully cover home nursing care services, along with a variety of other home services and functions, as long as the patient meets the requirements and criteria established by Medicare.
However, because it can be confusing to sort out the specific Medicare benefits for which you or a loved one might be eligible, the compassionate professional team from Suncrest Hospice in Austin have put together a variety of information for you.
We work tirelessly to assist patients and their families obtain access to home hospice care services. You can always contact us to for help, or to learn more about the benefits to which you should be entitled.
What Is Home Hospice Care?
Home hospice care refers to a wide variety of end-of-life services that are provided in the home, as opposed to a hospice clinic, assisted living facility, nursing home, etc.
The goals of home care will depend on the specific circumstances faced by the patient. This might include some or all of the following.
Skilled Nursing Services
At the core of home care, you will typically find the services of a skilled nursing professional. Nurses provide a variety of services and care, acting as the primary liaison between physicians and patients. Nurses carry out doctors’ instructions, ensuring that the patient receives the best possible care. Nurses also conduct monitoring and checks of the patient’s health. They might work with the patient, their family and aides to administer and monitor medications, change wound dressings, etc.
Certified Nursing Assistant
These services are typically provided by a qualified home health aide in Austin. Home health aides might provide services related to carrying out the instructions of medical professionals (such as physicians, nurses, etc.). Services also include a variety of tasks that are necessary to keep the patient safe and happy in their own home.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy consists of a variety of activities and exercises. This therapy is highly effective for dealing with a variety of chronic and potentially debilitating conditions such as arthritis. It can be utilized for pain management and relief, or positioning to prevent pressure sores, lessen pain, prevent contractures, and help with breathing and digestion. Physical therapy is also used to assist patients with chronic illnesses such as Parkinson’s Disease, multiple sclerosis, etc.
Occupational Therapy
Although not typically used as a part of hospice care, occupational therapy can be one of the most effective tools for helping patients. In this therapy, patients learn how to effectively complete the tasks of daily living on their own, helping preserve their dignity and independence.
Speech Therapy
In some cases, patients have difficulties related to communication. Speech therapy services address these challenges, whatever their cause might be. Speech language pathologists also work with patients who have challenges related to eating, swallowing, and performing other functions related to the speech center.
Social Work
Social work services are important for the patient’s overall health and well-being. These services work in harmony with related services and service providers to ensure that the patient is receiving the appropriate type and level of care in accordance with their needs and the goals of their treatment.
For every patient, the type of home care services provided will vary, based on the patient’s needs and the goals of the formal treatment plan. Depending on the patient’s circumstances, the specific home care services provided can also change over time, as the patient’s condition degrades.
What Are the Benefits of Hospice Care in the home?
One of the most important benefits of home hospice care is that the patient has the ability to remain in their home. Being at home can provide a significant level of comfort, both physically and emotionally. The setting is familiar and, even as the patient faces significant health challenges, they do not have to worry about confronting these challenges in unfamiliar surroundings.
Another benefit of having hospice care services in-home is cost. In most cases, home hospice care is much more cost-effective than similar services delivered in a facility.
Convenience is another factor to consider when exploring home hospice care in Austin. Family and friends are more likely to be present and interact with the patient when they are at home, as they do not have to face the logistical challenges of visiting a facility. This can provide a significant benefit to the patient, as they tend to fare better when surrounded by loved ones. These services are also invaluable for the time they can save, as compared to having to prepare the patient for travel, traveling to the location of a doctor or therapy provider, etc.
If you have concerns about the quality of care that can be delivered in the home, there’s good news. In-home hospice care services delivered by qualified professionals are just as effective as those that might be delivered in an assisted living or skilled nursing facility, or even in a hospital.
Does Medicare Cover Home Hospice Care?
Medicare does cover home hospice care, as does Medicaid and many of the most common private health insurance providers. Services should be fully covered, with no co-pay.
Some patients and their families encounter problems with their Medicare coverage, however. It is important to note that, under the law, Medicare Part A and Part B cover medically reasonable and necessary hospice care services under a variety of common qualifying conditions. Benefits have no duration or time limit, as long as qualifying conditions are met.
One of the best ways to ensure that your services are covered is to work with a home hospice care provider who handles billing Medicare on your behalf.
Specifically, the services that Medicare will cover are those that are reasonable and necessary for the patient. This includes skilled care such as skilled nursing care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology services. Medicare also covers specific home health aide services if the patient is also receiving skilled care. In addition, Medicare pays for medical supplies as well as medical social services.
How Do You Obtain Medicare Home Hospice Care in Austin?
By far, the easiest way to set up hospice care services in the home is to work with a hospice care agency in Austin.
Professional home nursing care agencies have extensive experience with all functions related to billing, specifically with billing Medicare. Be sure to choose an agency that is Medicare-certified, to further remove barriers to access of these critical in-home care benefits.
In most cases, the process begins with a home visit from a highly qualified and experienced registered nurse (RN). This compassionate professional will spend time with the patient and their loved ones, assessing the patient’s needs and goals. The nurse then works closely with the patient and their family to develop a formal care plan. This care plan will be carefully crafted around the patient’s unique needs and treatment/care objectives.
How Do You Identify the Best Home Hospice Care Services for Your Needs?
When choosing a home hospice agency in Austin, you might find yourself confused or overwhelmed by potential options.
Look for a hospice agency that is clearly committed to exceptional care and service to patients and their families. Ensure that they emphasize the importance of proactive communication and uncompromising integrity.
Suncrest Hospice is committed to providing a team of the industry’s most talented and compassionate health care professionals. We take pride in providing the highest quality care, providing a full range of hospice care – both short- and long-term.
We treat every patient and family member as though they were our own family, providing the utmost respect in an environment of dignity and compassion. We approach everything we do with the goal of enhancing the lives of the people we serve and easing the end-of-life transition.
The professional team of Suncrest takes a holistic approach to treatment and the provision of services, providing care for the whole person. Enhancing and improving quality of life is at the forefront of our services, allowing family members to focus on their loved one without having to be concerned with the quality of their care they are receiving.
Our extensive services include professional nursing care, home health aide services, occupational therapy and more.
Contact us today to learn more about Suncrest Home Health and Hospice, or to schedule your personal consultation regarding Medicare home hospice care in Austin.
