Full Definition

To qualify for Medicare home health, a patient must be homebound (leaving the home requires considerable effort due to illness or injury), need skilled nursing or therapy services, have a physician order, and receive care from a Medicare-certified home health agency.

“Homebound” does not mean the person never leaves the home — it means that leaving requires significant effort. A patient can attend medical appointments, a religious service, or adult day programs and still qualify as homebound.

Medicare covers as many visits as are clinically necessary. Coverage ends when the skilled need ends. Home health does NOT cover custodial care (bathing, dressing assistance) provided independently without a skilled service requirement.

For families navigating hospital discharge, confirming that home health services are scheduled and will begin within 24-48 hours of discharge is critical — gaps in home health after discharge are a leading cause of preventable readmissions.