Home care can be paid for by the individual, family, private insurance, or a variety of public programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, Labor & Industries. However, benefits and requirements vary greatly. It is prudent to check with the payor regarding specific benefits allowed BEFORE beginning services.  Interim HealthCare can help you with this task.

Finding the best home care agency for your needs requires research, but it is time well spent. To locate home care agencies in your community, start by asking your doctor, hospital discharge planners or hospital nurses. You could also call the Texas Association for Home Care for a list of agencies, since all are licensed by the State. Home care agencies are also listed in the telephone books (yellow pages) under " Nursing," "Home Care," "Home Health Care," and/or "Hospice."

Once you have the names of a few agencies, you will want to find out about what services they provide, as well as their reputations. The following are a list of questions that you may wish to ask in order to determine the right agency for you. How  long has the agency been serving the community? Is the agency licensed? By whom? In Texas, agencies must be licensed by the State. Medicare, Medicaid and independent accrediting bodies that certify and accredit home health agencies. Licensure, certification, and accreditation ensure that the agency meets basic standards, particularly for personnel, supervision, and accountability. Is the agency eligible to receive reimbursement from the sources that you require? Medicare, Medicaid, and many private insurance companies reimburse home health agencies for their services. Does the agency offer the expertise that you need (i.e., medically intensive home health care)? How long has the agency been providing this type of care? Who owns the agency? Is it a local company that can respond quickly to your needs? How does the agency choose its employees? How are the nurses/caregivers oriented and trained? Does the agency protect its workers with written personnel policies, benefit packages, and malpractice insurance?

Does a nurse or therapist conduct an evaluation of your needs at home? What is included?

What services and equipment does the agency provide? Can the agency provide all the services and equipment that you need or does it contract with other companies for medical equipment or other services? If so, does the agency coordinate these services for you? Is there an extra cost? Are these services covered under your reimbursement source (s)? Does the agency provide written statements regarding its services, fees (including any minimum hour/ day requirements and any extra charges), eligibility requirements, and funding sources? Is the plan of care written? Does it include specific duties to be performed? Who performs these duties? At what intervals and for how long? Can you review the plan? Does the agency send supervisors to visit your home and evaluate the quality of care regularly? How often? Interim HealthCare can say yes to all these situations.

Who do you call with questions and complaints? How are problems resolved? Is this done in a timely manner?

What arrangements are made for emergencies and transportation? Can you reach someone at the agency 24 hours a day?

Does the agency have a "Bill of Rights?" Ask to see it. It should describe many of the agency’s policies and patient/client care philosophy.

Are there extra charges for home assessments, telephone calls, co-pays, etc.? If so, who pays for these?

Interim HealthCare has polices and procedures to address the situations . They will be discussed with you before care is started.