Understanding Home Health Care
What patients and families should know
Home health care brings skilled medical services directly to your home, helping patients recover from surgery, manage chronic conditions, or maintain independence. With 12,251 Medicare-certified agencies across 55 states, home health is one of the fastest-growing segments of healthcare. The average agency quality rating is 3.2 stars, and 85% of agencies offer skilled nursing while 81% provide physical therapy services.
The home health industry is primarily proprietary: 74% of agencies (9,045) are for-profit, 1,084 are non-profit, and 256 are government-operated. California leads the nation with 3034 agencies. Research shows that patients who receive skilled care at home often recover faster, experience fewer infections, and report higher satisfaction compared to facility-based care.
Home health services include:
Skilled Nursing: Registered nurses providing medical care at home including wound care, IV therapy, medication management, injections, catheter care, and monitoring of chronic conditions like diabetes and heart failure.
Physical Therapy: Licensed therapists helping patients restore mobility, strength, and function after surgery, injury, or illness. Includes personalized exercise programs, gait training, balance improvement, and fall prevention.
Occupational Therapy: Therapists helping patients regain independence in daily living activities such as bathing, dressing, cooking, and home safety modifications. Includes adaptive equipment training and energy conservation techniques.
Speech-Language Pathology: Speech therapists treating communication disorders, swallowing difficulties, and cognitive-linguistic impairments. Essential for stroke recovery, head injury rehabilitation, and progressive neurological conditions.
Medical Social Work: Licensed social workers providing counseling, community resource coordination, and assistance navigating the healthcare system. They help with care transitions, insurance questions, and connecting families to support services.
Home Health Aide: Trained aides assisting with personal care activities such as bathing, dressing, grooming, and light housekeeping under the supervision of a registered nurse. Available only when skilled services are also being provided.
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Choosing the Right Home Health Agency
Key factors to evaluate when selecting home health care
Quality Ratings
Review the CMS Quality of Patient Care star rating, which measures timely initiation of care, improvement in mobility and self-care, flu vaccination rates, and hospital readmission rates. Agencies rated 4 or more stars consistently deliver better patient outcomes.
Services Offered
Confirm the agency provides all the services you need: skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, and home health aide services. Some agencies specialize in certain conditions like cardiac rehab, wound care, or orthopedic recovery.
Staff Credentials
Ask about the qualifications of the care team: Are nurses RNs or LPNs? Are therapists licensed and experienced in your condition? What ongoing training does the agency require? Better-credentialed staff typically deliver more effective care and catch complications earlier.
Care Coordination
Evaluate how the agency communicates with your physician, coordinates between disciplines (nursing, therapy, aides), and handles after-hours emergencies. Strong care coordination reduces hospital readmissions and ensures consistent progress toward your recovery goals.
Patient Satisfaction
Check the agency's CAHPS survey scores for patient satisfaction. Key measures include how well the agency communicates, whether staff are respectful and responsive, and whether patients would recommend the agency to others. High satisfaction scores correlate with better clinical outcomes.
What Medicare Covers for Home Health
Medicare covers 100% of medically necessary home health services with no copay
Medicare Part A and Part B cover home health services at no cost to you: no deductible, no coinsurance, and no copayment. To qualify, you must be homebound, need intermittent skilled care, and have a physician-ordered plan of care from a Medicare-certified agency. There is no limit on the number of visits or duration of care as long as you continue to meet eligibility requirements.
To qualify as "homebound," leaving home must require considerable and taxing effort. You can still leave home for medical appointments, religious services, or occasional trips. Your plan of care is reviewed and renewed every 60 days by your physician.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about home health care
What is home health care?
Home health care is a wide range of skilled medical services delivered in your home for an illness, injury, or chronic condition. It includes skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, and home health aide services, all coordinated by a physician.
Who qualifies for home health care?
You may qualify for Medicare-covered home health services if you are homebound (meaning leaving home requires considerable effort), need intermittent skilled nursing care or therapy, have a doctor who certifies your need, and receive care from a Medicare-certified agency.
Does Medicare cover home health care?
Yes. Medicare covers 100% of medically necessary home health services with no deductible or copayment. This includes skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, and home health aide services. You must meet homebound criteria and have a physician-ordered plan of care.
How are home health quality ratings determined?
CMS rates home health agencies using a Quality of Patient Care star rating (0.5 to 5 stars) based on measures including timely initiation of care, improvement in mobility, flu vaccination rates, hospital readmission rates, and patient satisfaction from CAHPS surveys.
How many home health agencies are in the United States?
There are 12,251 Medicare-certified home health agencies across 55 states and territories. 74% are for-profit (proprietary), with the remainder being non-profit or government-operated agencies.
What is the difference between home health care and home care?
Home health care involves skilled medical services (nursing, therapy, wound care) ordered by a physician and provided by licensed professionals. Home care (also called personal care) includes non-medical assistance like bathing, dressing, meal preparation, and companionship, and is typically not covered by Medicare.
How long does home health care last?
There is no set time limit for Medicare home health services. Care continues as long as your doctor certifies that you need skilled care, you remain homebound, and you are making progress toward your goals. Your plan of care is reviewed and renewed every 60 days.
How do I find a home health agency near me?
Use our search tool to find home health agencies by city or state. We list 12,251 Medicare-certified agencies with quality ratings, services offered, and location details to help you compare and choose the right provider.
Ready to Find Home Health Care?
Search 12,251 Medicare-certified home health agencies to find quality in-home care near you.
Data source: CMS Home Health Compare ·