Post-Surgical Home Health Services

When you are in the hospital, staff is available to plan your care and to put services in place when your doctor says you need them. You may be visited by a social worker or nurse called a discharge planner. A discharge plan must be in place before you go home and you should be aware of the kinds of medical services you need and know who will be providing them to you. Medicare pays for services given by a certified Home Health Agency. Home health care is available under Medicare when it is medically necessary and you require the services only a licensed nurse or therapist can provide. Medicare does not cover:

24 hour a day care at home.
Meals delivered to your home.
Homemaker services like cleaning, laundry and shopping.
Personal care given by home health aides, like bathing, using the toilet, or help in getting dressed when that is the only care you need.

Talk to your doctor about the kinds of help you will need and be sure to understand what you need to do to continue your recovery. Call 1-800-633-4227 for more information about the Medicare Home Health Benefit.