If you’re recovering at home after surgery or a hospital stay or managing a chronic condition, you may be wondering about options for at home care. Skilled home health care is medical care provided in your home by licensed professionals. How long you can receive skilled care depends on your health needs, your progress and the eligibility rules of your care plan, not a fixed timeline. 

In this article, we’ll explore what services home health care provides, how you qualify for it, and how long these services are available. 

If you’re exploring home health services for yourself or a loved one, we encourage you to reach out to us. Our dedicated team of health professionals will provide skilled, compassionate care in the comfort of your own home while treating you like family. We invite you to reach out today to learn more and get care. 

What Services Does Skilled Home Health Care Provide?

Skilled home health care provides core medical services carried out by trained professionals. 

Typically ordered and overseen by a physician, these services are designed to support you in recovering, improving or safely managing a health condition at home. 

Programs like North Carolina Medicaid and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs help cover these services for eligible individuals.

Core medical services include:

• Skilled nursing care such as wound treatments, injections or monitoring vital signs 
• Therapy services like physical therapy to help with mobility, occupational therapy to assist with daily living skills and speech therapy for support with communication or swallowing issues
• Advanced or specialized care, which may include medication management, IV therapy, infusion treatments or other clinical care, along with health education for patients and caregivers 

Depending on your care coverage, it may also include home health aides who assist with personal care like bathing, dressing and basic hygiene. These services are more common under Medicaid. 

3HC offers three main categories of home health services:

• Skilled nursing and aide services
• Medical social work
• Physical rehabilitation, including:
  • Physical therapy
  • Occupational therapy
  • Speech therapy

While there are different types of in-home health care, the central focus of skilled home health care is medical necessity.

How Do You Qualify for Skilled Home Health Care?

To qualify for skilled home health care, you must meet both general eligibility requirements and the requirements of your specific care plan.

General eligibility requirements include:

• A demonstrated, documented medical need for skilled care
• The ability to safely receive care in a home setting
• Services must be ordered by a doctor

If you are enrolled in North Carolina Medicaid, you must also meet certain income and clinical criteria of that plan. You do not need to be homebound to receive services under Medicaid. 

Veterans receiving skilled home health care must be enrolled in VA health care and qualify for VA community care services. Depending on your financial situation, there may be copayments. 

3HC is a proud 5-star partner of the We Honor Veterans Program, which focuses on providing veteran-centric care for veterans and their families. You can receive home health services from our caring team through a referral from your VA healthcare professional. 

Many private insurance plans also cover skilled home health care if it’s considered medically necessary. 

Approval for skilled home health care is based on regular review and assessments. Services can be adjusted based on your progress and how your condition changes over time. 

At 3HC, our trained staff is knowledgeable about insurance eligibility and coverage requirements. We encourage you to reach out to us if you have questions about what skilled home health care services your plan covers. 

What’s the Difference Between Skilled Home Health Care and a Home Health Aide?

While skilled home health care and home health aide services both happen in the home, the focus of care differs.

Skilled care:

• Emphasizes medical treatment and recovery, such as wound care, medication management and helping you regain strength after an illness, among other duties 
• Is delivered by licensed professionals like nurses and therapists

Home health aide services:

• Provide non-medical personal support for activities of daily living (ADLs), for example, bathing and grooming, dressing and meal preparation 

Another distinction involves time limits on services:

• Skilled home health services are typically time-limited based on how long they’re considered medically necessary.
• Personal care services may continue for a longer duration if needed, especially with Medicaid. 

How Long Can You Receive Skilled Home Health Care Services?

There is no standard, generally accepted time limit for how long you can receive skilled home health care. Services can be delivered as long as they are medically necessary and approved. 

The duration of care depends on your medical condition, your progress toward recovery and ongoing assessment by your physician.

For example:

• Your care may be short-term after surgery or a hospital stay, lasting a few weeks or months as you receive nursing or therapy services on your way to recovery.
• If you have more complicated medical needs or chronic conditions, you may be eligible for extended services, especially if you’re enrolled in a Medicaid program that covers long-term care services at home.
• If you have VA coverage, your care may be more goal-oriented and focused on recovery or stabilization. While services may be provided for a defined period, they can be extended or renewed if your doctor considers them necessary. 

As previously mentioned, how long you can receive skilled care at home is based on your health and progress, not a specific, pre-set time limit. 

Your doctor’s recommendations, your recovery progress, the care plan you’re enrolled in, and whether you require skilled medical services, personal care or both all play a role. You can receive skilled care as long as you need it and qualify for it. 

Exploring Skilled Home Health Services? 3HC Treats You Like Family While Delivering Expert, Compassionate Care at Home

At 3HC, we’ve been serving North Carolina families from the Triangle to the coast for decades with safe, affordable care. We’re committed to delivering skilled health services in the comfort of your own home, so you can remain in your community and among your family, even if you need consistent medical care. 

If you’re exploring home health services for yourself or a loved one, we encourage you to contact us. Our dedicated team of health professionals is ready to support you with skilled home health care while treating you like family. We invite you to reach out today to learn more and get care.