Home Health Care FAQ
If you’re considering Cheyenne Regional’s home health care services for yourself or a loved one, we know you have many questions about what to expect.
For any questions or concerns not addressed here, please contact us at (307) 633-7000.
Who can receive home health care services?
Home health care services are designated for individuals deemed by a medical provider to be “home bound.” This means that it is a great or taxing effort for the individual to leave the home AND/OR it would require two or more persons to assist that person to exit the home. Home care services do allow for individuals to leave.
CRMC’s home health care services are available to all eligible residents of Laramie County, Platte County and Goshen County, including Burns, Albin, Carpenter, Wheatland, Torrington and Meridian.
How can I get a home health care referral?
Home health care can be initiated after a recent visit to an individual’s primary care provider, after a discharge from an inpatient, acute care, skilled nursing care or long term care setting. A face-to-face summary and letter must be provided, as well as a prescription for the need for home health care services.
When do home health services begin?
A Cheyenne Regional home health care nurse or therapist (PT/OT/ST) will contact the patient within 48 hours of discharge and/or referral completion.
How long does home care last?
Home care services are based upon a person’s skilled need for services based upon physician, nursing and therapists’ evaluation.
While every person and care plan is individualized, home health care does not often last longer than three months.
Who is on the home health services team?
Your home health services team will include some (or all) of the professionals listed below.
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
Cheyenne Regional home health CNAs provide patients with personal care assistance during bathing, dressing, feeding, toileting, and grooming tasks. They also encourage patients to participate as independently as able, but provide caring and compassionate support when needed.
Through our hourly/waiver and private care programs, CNAs can also assist patients with light housekeeping such as dusting, vacuuming, meal preparation, medication reminders, and taking out the trash.
Medical Social Services
These individuals assist patients and families by providing resources to community programs and mental health counseling; conducting an assessment of social, financial and emotional needs; and providing assistance with case management for waiver services, Medicare and Medicaid services.
Occupational Therapists
Occupational therapists strive to help individuals gain the strength, mobility, balance and endurance they need to increase independence while participating in tasks that are meaningful to the individual. Often, they teach individuals unique adaptations to achieve personal goals and live their lives to the fullest.
For more about occupational therapy in home health care, click here.
Physical Therapists
A physical therapist helps individuals who are recovering from a stroke, knee/hip surgery, heart attack, fall or generalized weakness to regain strength and confidence while participating in meaningful daily tasks. Often, physical therapists will ask what tasks are challenging for the individual to complete, then identify muscle groups to strengthen and/or adaptations to make that task easier for the person to complete.
For more about physical therapy in home health care, click here.
Registered Nurses
Every nursing care visit is determined based upon a patient’s medical need, identified by the patient, nurse and family in the plan of care. Our registered nurses provide skilled care for individuals from birth to end-of-life, including:
- Clinical assessments
- Skin and wound care assessments/treatments
- A plan of care to promote increased quality of life
- Coordination of care with other disciplines (Physical, Occupational, Speech, Case Management and Certified Nursing Assistants)
Additional care our registered nurses can provide includes infusion care for total protein nutrition, hydration, pain management and antibiotic therapy; assistance for lab draw/values; follow-up and communication with an individual’s primary care provider, and assistance with medication review and reconciliation.
Speech-Language Pathologists
Our speech-language pathologists (SLPs) use a number of strategies and techniques to improve swallowing, communication, thinking and memory. Their goal is to empower patients and their families to communicate clearly, swallow more effectively, and speak up (loudly) about their medical conditions and aspirations for memory and cognitive success.
For more about speech therapy in home health care, click here.
Which insurance companies provide home care coverage?
CRMC home health care will accept any insurance, but the insurance company needs to approve a patient for in-network benefits provided. We highly encourage each patient to reach out to their insurance provider to determine if we are a Tier One or in-network provider.
Insurance that provides home care coverage includes:
- Aetna
- Cigna
- Medicaid
- Medicare
- Meritain
- Private insurances (example: Blue Cross Blue Shield)
- Private Pay
- UMR
- Veterans benefits
Please note: We do not offer auto-pay for home health care billing. Home health care billing is separate from hospital billing.
However, we do offer payment plans as follows:
- Balances of less than $1,800 can be set up on a 12-month payment plan
- Balances of more than $1,800 can be set up on a 24-month payment plan
- Balances of more than $5,000 can be set up on a 36-month payment plan
To contact our billing specialists with questions, please call our main home care line at (307) 633-7000 and ask for the billing department.
