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Certified Home Health Agencies and Licensed Home Care Service Agencies
New York State licenses two types of organizations that provide home health care: Certified Home Health Agencies (CHHAs) and Licensed Home Care Service Agencies (LHCSAs). Only the employees of these agencies are permitted to provide hands-on care to patients, from bathing to administering medication. Certified and licensed agencies screen their employees carefully. They check their criminal backgrounds nationwide, references, training and licensing, and flexibility in terms of availability to make certain that their caregivers are skilled and responsible.
Most importantly, certified and licensed health care agencies provide close supervision of all their employees, ensuring that the proper services are delivered. The agencies supervisors make sure that the requirements of the job are understood and carried out.
There is an important distinction between certified services and licensed services. Certified services are those that, under specific circumstances, may be covered by Medicare/Medicaid or commercial insurance plans, including managed care plans. Licensed services may be reimbursed by commercial insurance plans and managed care plans and may also be purchased on a private pay basis.
There are many unlicensed workers who offer support to seniors in need of assistance at home. While they may be dedicated and may have learned some health care through informal education and experience, there is no assurance that they have the requisite skills needed. These unlicensed workers are often unsupervised professionally, leaving the seniors family to do the overseeing. In addition, if they fail to perform their duties as expected, there is no one to turn to for protection. There also may be legal implications for family members who hire unlicensed workers directly. Therefore, it is in the best interest of the senior and his family to select a certified or licensed home health care agency.
Before selecting a home health care agency, talk to the patient's physician about the specific medical/nursing/daily care she needs. Ask the physician for recommendations of agencies he knows are reputable and responsible. Also, if the patient needs care after hospitalization, talk to her social worker and discharge planner, both of whom may be able to offer help in finding the right agency. Call the New York State Senior Citizens Hot Line (1-800-342-9871) for a list of local agencies. There is at least one CHHA in every county in New York State.
Make sure all concerns are answered before choosing a CHHA. Learn in detail all the services that will be provided to the senior at home. Also make sure to know what the backup procedure is if, for some reason, the scheduled caregiver cannot arrive on time.
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