Financial Planning in Alzheimer's Disease (cont.)
Medicare Coverage of Skilled Nursing Care Facilities
In order to receive care in a nursing home under
Medicare:
- You must have had a three-day hospital stay prior to admission into the
skilled nursing facility.
- You must be admitted into the skilled nursing facility within 30 days of
discharge from the hospital.
- You must enter the skilled nursing facility for treatment of the same
condition for which you were hospitalized.
- You must require daily skilled care.
- The condition must be one that can be improved by admission to the
facility.
- The facility must be Medicare-certified.
- Your physician must write a care plan. The care plan must be carried out by
the skilled nursing facility. (Once the patient meets the level of functioning
laid out in the care plan, Medicare will no longer pay for services.)
Medicare Coverage of Home Care
In order to receive home care under Medicare:
- The patient must be homebound.
- The physician must certify a plan of care.
- Care must be needed on a non-continuous basis.
- Care cannot exceed 35 hours per week or 8 hours per day.
- Physical or speech
therapy must be provided on a "necessary and reasonable" basis. There are no
restrictions on the number of days or hours per week of these therapies.
- If a person qualifies for home health care, he or she is entitled to a home
health aide to provide some personal care.
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