Psychiatric Home Health Care Skilled Nursing Services

Abstract

Skilled psychiatric nursing services can be an integral component of Medicare certified home health care agencies. Medicare will reimburse home health care agencies for psychiatric nursing home visits on an intermittent basis for qualified psychiatric clients who are under the care of a psychiatrist, have psychiatric diagnoses, and are homebound secondary to psychological or medical problems. Clients’ diagnosed psychiatric disorders may include dementia, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and substance abuse. Nursing services are provided under a plan of care that is developed and signed by a psychiatrist in consultation with psychiatric nurse and reviewed at least every 60 days by the psychiatrist.

Keywords

psychiatric home health Medicare skilled nursing care psychiatric nursing psychiatric clients home health care nursing

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References

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (CMS Pub. 100-02) Medicare Benefit Policy Manual. Chapter 7: Home Health Services. (Rev. 142, 04-15-11). 2011. Available at: http://www.medicare.gov/homehealthcompare/About/MedicareCoverage.aspx. Accessed August 5, 2012.