You may be surprised to learn that health insurers will only cover home health services ordered by a physician. Advanced practice nurses (APRN) are qualified to order home care services and legally authorized to do so within their scope of practice in every state. Yet, due to Medicare law (written in 1964, before APRNs even existed), the ordering of home care services is restricted to physicians. APRNs are effectively barred from ordering this essential service, because in order to be reimbursed, home care agencies (e.g. Visiting Nurse Service) will only take home care orders from a physician. This can only be corrected legislatively at the Federal level. There is a Senate Bill for this, S.445 - The Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) is the chief sponsor. The bill has 37 co-sponsors.:
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Summary of S.445 - 115th Congress (2017-2018): Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act of 2017
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In the House of Representatives, the companion bill for this is H.R.1825 - The Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act. Representative Chris Collins (R-NY) is the chief sponsor. The bill has 114 co-sponsors.
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Summary of H.R.1825 - 115th Congress (2017-2018): Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act of 2017
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Please call and email your U.S. Senator and ask them to co-sponsor and support the passage of S. 445, The Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act. Please call and email your U.S. Representative and ask them to co-sponsor and support H.R.1825, The Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act. Ask your family and friends to do the same. You can find contact information for both your U.S. Senator and U.S. Representative here:
