One of Medicare’s qualifying criteria for home health care is that the beneficiary is homebound and that the physician certifies that he or she believes the beneficiary is homebound. The beneficiary shall be considered homebound if the following two criteria are met.
Criteria-One:
The beneficiary must either:
- Because of illness or injury, need the aid of supportive devises such as crutches, canes, wheelchairs, and walkers; the use of special transportation; or the assistance of another person in order to leave their place of residence OR
- Have a condition such that leaving his or her home is medically contraindicated.
Criteria-Two:
- There must exist a normal inability to leave home; AND
- Leaving home must require a considerable and taxing effort.
The patient may be considered homebound if the absences from the home are infrequent or for periods of relative short durations, or are for the need to receive health care treatment. Examples may be attendance at adult day care centers, ongoing outpatient kidney dialysis or outpatient chemotherapy or radiation therapy.