Qualifications for Home Health Care
Home health agency services are available for individuals who are homebound and need intermittent nursing care or skilled therapies at home. A doctor must order the services and approve a plan of care that is reviewed every 60 days. To qualify for home health services, a patient must:

• Have a medical need ("medical necessity") for either nursing or rehabilitative skilled care (therapy)
• Be homebound
• Have a competent caretaker who can be taught how to help you with your medical care
• Have an attending doctor to oversee the treatment plan

Services Offered by Home Health Agencies
Professionals who make home health agency visits include:

• Medical/surgical nurses
• Rehabilitative nurses
• Advanced practice nurses in specialties such as heart/lung, cancer, mental health, and wound care
• Medical social workers
• Dietitians
• Physical, occupational and speech therapists

Services of other care team members, such as licensed practical nurses and home health aides, can be provided only under the supervision of a nurse and are covered only if the patient meets the criteria described above. Visits for special conditions under mental health and palliative care are also part of these services.

Once a care team is chosen for the patient, they will meet together to construct a plan of care that focuses on attaining the highest level of function for the patient in their residence to prevent re-hospitalization.

Choosing a Home Health Care Provider
The following resources can help you select a quality home health care provider:

A Home Health Provider
Published by the American Association for Homecare

Home Health Compare
A product of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS)

UPMC Home Health Agencies

Company	Phone Number
UPMC/Jefferson Regional Home Health	888-860-2273
UPMC Northwest Visiting Nurse Association Home Care Agency	814-678-4820

Accessing Home Health Agencies
Your doctor can arrange for home health agency services through UPMC/Jefferson Regional Home Health. Home care liaisons will coordinate the referral.

Contact the Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh for more information on home health services or e-mail us your questions.

The Pennsylvania Homecare Association provides a directory of home health providers in counties throughout the state.