Does Medicare cover non-skilled workers?

Home health agencies deliver a variety of skilled services outlined by the chart below. The plan of care always includes as well custodial services to help the care-recipient remain in the home. These would include an aide for an hour or two a day to help with bathing, dressing and transferring. If there is time remaining other personal services may be offered as well. These personal services are also covered by Medicare.

Recently Medicare has redefined what it means by "homebound" to allow recipients to leave the home on a limited basis. Beginning in 2003 and ending three years later, Medicare is testing, with a very small test group, a program where selected home health agencies can provide adult day health care instead of home health services. If successful the program will offer a new dimension in Medicare home care. In addition, under the new definition, Medicare will also allow and pay for home visits from doctors who specialize in homebound elderly patients. Limited office visits are also allowed under the new definition.

Mmmm... well, maybe the workers don't need rehab. The patients do. :)

We've had only skilled workers that were covered by Medicare for a limited time. The goal of Medicare is to rehabilitate the workers through PT and OT. They will also cover a nurse and someone to give baths during this time. In Alabama, it is the only services that qualify. I heard that other states have a broader range of services and times that are covered. At-home services that are paid by Medicare are very limited here in Alabama.