Medicare coverage of home health billing

What Medicare covers
If you’re eligible for Medicare-covered home health care (see page 5), Medicare covers the following services if they’re reasonable and necessary for the treatment of your illness or injury:
* Skilled nursing care. Skilled nursing services are covered when they’re given on a part-time or intermittent basis. In order for skilled nursing care to be covered by the Medicare home health benefit, your care must be necessary and ordered by your doctor for your specific condition. You must not need full time nursing care and you must be homebound. See page 5.
Skilled nursing services are given by either a registered nurse (RN) or a licensed practical nurse (LPN). If you get services from a LPN, your care will be supervised by a RN. Home health nurses provide direct care and teach you and your caregivers about your care. They also manage, observe, and evaluate your care. Examples of skilled nursing care include: giving IV drugs, shots, or tube feedings; changing dressings; and teaching about prescription drugs or diabetes care. Any service that could be done safely by a non-medical person (or by yourself) without the supervision of a nurse, isn’t skilled nursing care.
Home health aide services may be covered when given on a part-time or intermittent basis if needed as support services for skilled nursing care. Home health aide services must be part of the care for your illness or injury. Medicare doesn’t cover home health aide services unless you’re also getting skilled care such as nursing care or other physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech-language pathology services from the home health agency.