Physicians/Referral

An M.D., D.O., or Podiatrist can refer a patient to home care.

Yes.

Call the referral line at (210) 822-8807

We will need the following information:

• Name, address, and phone number
• Social Security number and Date of Birth
• Health Insurance Information
• Emergency Contact Information
• Name of ordering physician
• Primary reason for home health

Yes.

A referral can be faxed to the Home Nursing and Therapy Services by completing the referral form and faxing it to (210) 822-8863. If you have questions do not hesitate to call (210)822-8807.

• The face-to-face encounter is an in-person visit that occurs between the certifying physician or collaborative non-physician practitioner (nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist or a supervised physician’s assistant) and the patient home health services are being ordered for.
• The encounter MUST be related to the primary reason pt. is needing home health services.

no more than 90 days prior to the home health start of care date OR

• (90 days prior to the start date of home health services OR)
• Within 30 days after home health has started services.

• Date of face-to-face encounter
• Medical condition which justifies primary reason for home health
• Clinical findings of the encounter that support home health need
• Clinical findings of the encounter that support homebound status of patient
• Medicare considers the person homebound if:
  1. There exists a normal inability to leave the home and
  2. Leaving home requires a considerate and taxing effort
• Physician signature AND date
• Under the care of a physician, OR Receiving services under a plan of care established and periodically reviewed by a physician AND in need of skilled services

You may bill for 30 minutes of care plan oversight a month, including medical decision making, review of charts, reports, or treatment plans; review of lab or study results that weren’t ordered during or associated with a face-to-face encounter; phone calls to other health professionals involved in the care of the patient, phoning in prescriptions, and other items on the home care patient’s behalf. Code for care plan oversight is: G0181 for home health.