What is Medicare home health?
Home health care is skilled medical care you receive in your own home, ordered by your doctor and given by nurses and therapists from a certified agency. Medicare home health is the part of your Medicare benefit that can pay for this care when you meet certain rules. It is covered under Medicare Part A and Part B, and it is meant for people whose health makes leaving the house hard.
Home health is different from help with chores or companionship. Visits are part-time or intermittent: a nurse or therapist comes for a scheduled visit, provides the care your doctor ordered, teaches you and your family, and then leaves. The goal is to help you recover, stay safe and avoid going back to the hospital.
Making Memories Home Health is a locally owned, Medicare-certified home health agency based in Tampa and accredited by The Joint Commission. We serve patients in Tampa, Brandon, Lakeland, Bradenton and other communities across Hillsborough, Polk and Manatee counties, in English or Spanish.
For a deeper, plain-language walk-through, read our article on understanding your Medicare home health benefits.
Who qualifies for Medicare home health care?
You can get Medicare home health when all of these are true:
- A doctor or allowed practitioner orders it. That can be a doctor, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist or physician assistant. They certify that you need care at home and review your plan of care.
- You need skilled care on a part-time or intermittent basis. That means skilled nursing, physical therapy or speech-language therapy, or continued occupational therapy.
- You are homebound. Leaving home takes considerable and taxing effort because of your illness or injury.
- You had a face-to-face visit. A doctor or allowed practitioner saw you for the main reason you need care, within the 90 days before or the 30 days after care starts.
- Your agency is Medicare-certified, as Making Memories Home Health is.
What “homebound” really means
Homebound does not mean you never leave the house. You may need a walker, a wheelchair, special transportation or another person’s help to get out, or your doctor may advise you not to leave because of your condition. Short, infrequent outings are allowed, such as medical appointments, religious services or adult day care. Our team reviews this with you and your doctor at the start of care.
You do not need a hospital stay first. Many people start home health after a hospital or rehab stay, and our guide to coming home after a hospital stay explains that transition. Your doctor can also order home health care when your health changes at home.
What Medicare home health covers
When you qualify, Medicare can cover the home health services your doctor orders, such as:
- Skilled nursing: wound care, IV therapy and injections, catheter care, medication management and teaching about conditions like heart failure, COPD and diabetes
- Physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech-language therapy
- Medical social work to help with community resources, planning and caregiver stress
- Home health aide visits for personal care, but only alongside skilled nursing or therapy
- Medical supplies the agency uses for your care, such as wound dressings
If you need IV therapy, the medicine comes from an infusion pharmacy that your doctor or hospital arranges. We do not insert PICC lines; your hospital or infusion team places them and our nurses care for them at home.
With Original Medicare, if you qualify, you pay nothing for covered home health services such as nursing and therapy visits. Medical equipment your doctor orders, such as a walker or hospital bed, is handled through Medicare’s durable medical equipment benefit, where you usually pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the Part B deductible. With Medicare Advantage and other plans, coverage and cost-sharing such as copays or coinsurance depend on your plan and the services you receive, so we verify your benefits and explain any costs before your first visit.
What Medicare home health does not cover:
- Care around the clock, 24 hours a day, at home
- Meal delivery
- Homemaker services such as shopping, cleaning and laundry
- Personal care, such as bathing or dressing, when that is the only care you need
If your family wants help with personal care or housekeeping between visits, ask about our home care and long-term care services, available through Medicaid Long-Term Care plans or private pay.
Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage
Original Medicare pays for covered home health care directly, and you can use any Medicare-certified agency that serves your area and accepts you.
Medicare Advantage plans must cover home health care too, but each plan sets its own rules. Plans often require you to use an agency in their network and to get approval before care starts or before extra visits. Cost-sharing differs from plan to plan, and some plans have copays for home health, so call us to verify yours.
We accept Traditional Medicare. Medicare Advantage coverage and our participation depend on your specific plan, so we verify both before care starts. Call (813) 931-0015 to verify your coverage. More details are on our insurance page.
Before your first visit, our intake team confirms your doctor’s order, checks your coverage, requests approval from your plan when it is required, and works with your doctor’s office on the face-to-face visit and other paperwork. We call you to explain what we found before care starts.
How to start Medicare home health in Tampa
- Talk to your doctor. Ask whether home health care is right for you and request a referral to Making Memories Home Health. If you are in the hospital, ask the discharge planner.
- Call us at (813) 931-0015. Tell us your doctor’s name and your Medicare or plan information. We can contact your doctor’s office for the order.
- Your doctor sends the referral. Doctors and case managers can send a referral by phone or fax to (813) 931-0017.
- Your first visit. A nurse or therapist calls to schedule, then comes to your home to review your health, your medicines and your home safety.
- Your plan of care. Your team builds a plan of care with your goals, and your doctor reviews and signs it.
Have questions about your Medicare home health benefit? Call Making Memories Home Health at (813) 931-0015, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Our nurses are on call 24/7 for current patients. For emergencies, call 911.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a hospital stay before Medicare covers home health care?
No. Original Medicare does not require a hospital stay before home health care. Many people start after a hospital or rehab stay, but your doctor can also order home health care when your health changes at home.
How long can I receive Medicare home health care?
There is no set number of visits. Care can continue as long as you still qualify and your doctor reviews and renews your plan of care. When you meet your goals or no longer need skilled care, your team plans your discharge with you.
Can I choose my home health agency?
Yes. With Original Medicare you can choose any Medicare-certified agency that serves your area and accepts you. With a Medicare Advantage plan, you usually need an agency in your plan's network. Tell your doctor or discharge planner that you would like Making Memories Home Health.
How do I start Medicare home health with Making Memories?
Ask your doctor, or the hospital discharge planner, for a home health referral to Making Memories Home Health. You can also call us at (813) 931-0015 with your doctor's name and your Medicare information, and we will help with the next steps. We check your coverage before your first visit.
What if Medicare says I no longer qualify?
Your agency must give you written notice before covered services end, and that notice explains how to ask for a fast appeal. You can call us with questions about the notice, and you can also call 1-800-MEDICARE.
Where we provide medicare home health
We visit patients at home in Hillsborough, Polk and Manatee counties, including:
Tampa · Brandon · Riverview · Plant City · Temple Terrace · Lutz · Carrollwood · Town 'n' Country · Lakeland · Winter Haven · Bradenton · Lakewood Ranch
Hillsborough County · Polk County · Manatee County
Insurance we accept
We accept Traditional Medicare, plus long-term care plans and private pay. Medicare Advantage coverage and our participation depend on your specific plan, so we verify both before care starts. Call (813) 931-0015 to verify your coverage. See insurance we accept.
Doctors, hospital discharge planners and case managers can send a home health referral by fax to (813) 931-0017. How to refer a patient.
Other services
Making Memories Home Health provides home health care services.
Skilled Nursing · Wound Care · Home IV Therapy · Catheter Care · Medication Management · Physical Therapy · Occupational Therapy · Speech Therapy · Medical Social Work · Home Health Aide · Home Care & Long-Term Care