Disposable Medical Supplies for UW Home Health Patients
UW hospital, clinics, and home care staff will work with you to arrange for the care and supplies that you may need at home. This includes directing you to the provider of your choice. If you choose to work with UW Health Home Care Services, they will arrange for supplies to be shipped to you or you may pick them up at the UW Health Home Care Services office. The office is located at 2030 Pinehurst Drive in Middleton. It is open Mondays through Fridays from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.
Guidelines for supply coverage depend on your health care plan.
Private Insurance and HMO
Your insurance plan or HMO may pay for all or part of these supplies. If you have a second plan, it may cover all or part of any co-payment you may have from your first policy. Your plan may also direct you to their preferred providers for the best coverage. The staff person helping with your home health planning can help you explore all choices for the best coverage.
Medical Assistance
Medical Assistance (MA, Badger Care, Forward Health) may pay for all or part of these supplies. Your home medical supply company can answer specific questions about coverage for individual supplies. For urologic and incontinence supplies such as urinary catheters and Chux pads, the State of Wisconsin MA program contracts with an out-of-state provider called J&B Medical Supply.
Medicare Part A for home health agency patients
Medicare rules require that the home health agency which provides your care also provides you with certain disposable medical supplies while you receive the home health visits.
With some exceptions, the home health agency provides these supplies at no charge. These supplies include:
- Supplies that Medicare has been paying for in the past that may or may not be related to your need for home health services, such as dressings, catheters, and ostomy supplies. UW Home Health Agency will stock and deliver supplies of varying brands. We will work with your doctor to ensure that the supplies we provide are the proper ones for the care and treatment of your condition.
- Those supplies related to your direct care, except for insulin syringes, gloves, and incontinence pads. We provide these three items only when they are used by home health staff during home health visits. If you need them in between visits, it is your responsibility to provide them yourself.
As a rule, drugs and personal hygiene items are not covered or provided by the home health agency. Medicare has a list of “routine and non-routine” supplies for home health care. Should your need for supplies fall outside this list, UW Home Health staff will let you know. These supplies may not be covered. If you have Medicare part B or a second insurance plan, it may cover all or part of the amount not covered by Medicare A.
Home medical equipment such as walkers, wheelchairs, and hospital beds are not supplied under your home health plan of care. These items are covered separately. They may be supplied by a Medicare-approved vendor of your choice. UW Health Home Care Services is one of these choices.
Getting supplies when skilled home health care is no longer needed
When you no longer need skilled home health nursing or therapy visits, UW Home Health staff will help you to make plans to obtain supplies from the vendor of your choice. You may choose to stay with UW Health Home Care Services or choose a new vendor.
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The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
Last Updated: 04/13/2010
Copyright © 04/13/2010 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. UWH #5381
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