Home health agency
A home health agency (HHA) is a public agency, private organization, or a subdivision of such dedicated to providing health care services to people in their residence or in another non-institutional setting. Care may be provided by licensed healthcare professionals who provide medical care needs or by professional caregivers who provide daily care to help to ensure the activities of daily living (ADL's) are met.[1] Often, the term "home health care" is used to distinguish a home health agency's services from personal, non-medical, custodial, or private-duty care services, which are provided by persons who are not nurses, doctors, or other licensed medical personnel.[2]
HHAs in the United States
The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) defines a home health agency as "a public agency or private organization, or a subdivision of such an agency or organization, which...":
- "is primarily engaged in providing skilled nursing services and other therapeutic services";
- "has policies established by a professional group associated with the agency or organization ... to govern the services";
- "maintains clinical records on all patients";
- "is licensed in accordance with State or local law or is approved by the State or local licensing agency as meeting the licensing standards"; and
- "meets other conditions found by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to be necessary for health and safety."[3]
References
- ↑ Dieckmann, Janna L.; Harris, Marilyn (ed.) (2009). "Chapter 1: Home Health Care: An Historical Perspective and Overview". Handbook of Home Health Care Administration. Jones & Bartlett Learning. pp. 3–20. ISBN 9780763755829. http://books.google.com/books?id=nUamEbLyyVkC&pg=PA5&lpg=PA5. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
- ↑ "Comparing senior care and home health care". Homecare.com. http://homecare.com/comparing-senior-care-and-home-health-care. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
- ↑ "Medicare General Information, Eligibility, and Entitlement: Chapter 5 - Definitions" (PDF). CMS Online Manual System. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. 6 March 2009. https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Manuals/downloads/ge101c05.pdf. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
