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VNS CHOICE is a comprehensive managed long term care program for older adults who wish to live at home but need assistance with day-to-day activities. VNS CHOICE is designed to provide each member with the very best possible care. We encourage members to take an active part in their own health care, and we offer many choices of services and locations.
If you choose to join VNS CHOICE, a Nurse Consultant from our staff will work closely with you, your family, and your physician to:
- Understand your needs
- Develop a plan of care, including all the medically necessary services you need
- Visit you in your home to provide care and monitor your health
- Coordinate all of your health care services, to be sure that everyone is working together to provide you with the BEST care, and ensure that you receive all your long term care and health-related services - home, community, and facility-based services - through VNS CHOICE.
A program of Visiting Nurse Service of New York, VNS CHOICE has been serving residents of New York since 1998. VNS CHOICE is a managed long term care program funded by Medicaid through a contract with the New York State Department of Health.
"What are the advantages of joining this program?"
As a member of VNS CHOICE, you will work with your own Nurse Consultant to develop a plan of services designed especially for you. Your Nurse Consultant will talk with you, offer professional advice, and arrange all the long term care services you need. VNS CHOICE is more flexible than many other long term care programs, offering you a greater selection of how and where to get the help you need. With over 100 years of experience caring for people at home, Visiting Nurse Service of New York is uniquely qualified to offer this program. You not only get more choices, but the expertise of our staff to help you make the best choices.
"What are the benefits and services provided by VNS CHOICE?"
All of the Medicaid long term care and other health-related services that you need are provided through VNS CHOICE. One call connects you to all the services of the program that are medically necessary. Your Nurse Consultant will work with you, your doctor, and your family, to develop a plan of care that uses services to best meet your individual needs.
Covered services include:
- Professional Nursing
- Care Coordination
- 24-Hour-a-Day, 7-Day-a-Week On-Call Services
- Home Health Care - Nursing, Home Health Aides, Rehabilitation Therapies and Medical Social Work
- Rehabilitation Therapies (Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy) provided in Settings Other Than Home
- Personal Care
- Chore Service and Housekeeping
- Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS)
- Scheduled Transportation to Health-related Appointments
- Home-Delivered Meals
- Nutritional Counseling and Nutritional Supplements
- Adult Day Health Care or Social Adult Day Care
- Medical Equipment
- Medical and Surgical Supplies
- Respiratory Therapy and Oxygen
- Home Safety Modifications/Improvements
- Prosthetics and Orthotics
- Dental Care
- Eye Exams and Glasses
- Foot Care
- Hearing Exams and Hearing Aids (including hearing aid batteries)
- Nursing Home Care (certain Medicaid restrictions may apply)
"Who Provides the Services?"
All services of VNS CHOICE are provided by the Visiting Nurse Service of New York and the carefully chosen, reliable providers of the VNS CHOICE provider network. As a member, you will have a choice of providers in your neighborhood. To obtain a list of our VNS CHOICE provider network or to find out if your provider is in the network, simply email or call us at: 1-888-VNS-6555 or (212) 609-5600.
If you are currently receiving services from someone who is not a part of our network, we will coordinate any changes that need to be made so that you continue to receive the care you need.
"Can I Continue to Use My Own Doctor?"
Yes. With VNS CHOICE, you choose your own doctor. Your Nurse Consultant will work along with your doctor and other providers to coordinate all your health care needs. If you need help finding a doctor, we can help you locate a qualified physician in your neighborhood.
"How does membership in VNS CHOICE affect my health coverage?"
Membership in VNS CHOICE does not change your coverage for important medical benefits - including your doctor visits, hospitalizations, emergency room care, ambulance, prescription drug coverage, and others. If you have Medicare, you will continue to be covered by Medicare for these services. Members who use their Medicaid cards when receiving these services will also continue to do so. Your Nurse Consultant can make it easier for you by helping to obtain and coordinate these benefits with your VNS CHOICE services. And she will work closely with your physician to be sure that all the services you receive can meet your specific needs.
"How do I know if I am eligible to join?"
You may be eligible to join VNS CHOICE if you meet all the guidelines:
- You are at least 65 years old.
- You are Medicaid eligible.
- You are eligible for nursing home care but choose to remain at home with assistance at the time of enrollment. A VNS CHOICE Nurse Consultant will assess your needs to determine if you need ongoing help with activities such as bathing, dressing, walking, or preparing food.
- You will require long term care services for at least four months, as determined by the Nurse's assessment.
- You reside in the VNS CHOICE service area, which includes the five boroughs of New York City.
- Your health care needs can be safely met in your home.
"How do I become a member of VNS CHOICE?"
Membership in VNS CHOICE is voluntary. You always have a choice: you choose to enroll in the program and you may choose to disenroll at any time. If you are interested in becoming a member, the steps to enroll are as follows:
Step One: Contact us or call us at 1-888-VNS-6555 or (212) 609-5600. We will talk with you by phone and answer any questions you have about the program.
Step Two: If you are interested in the program, a VNS CHOICE Nurse Consultant will come to your home at a time that is convenient for you. During this visit, the Nurse Consultant will begin to determine your needs, talk more about how the program can help you, and provide you with written materials that describe how the program works.
Step Three: If you are eligible and choose to enroll, your membership usually becomes effective on the first day of the month after your application is completed. This process could take 3 to 7 weeks. Be assured that if you need home care services during the enrollment period, we can provide them through our home care agency.
"How Can I Learn More About VNS CHOICE?"
Simply contact us or call one of our helpful Membership Coordinators at: 1-888-VNS-6555 or (212) 609-5600.
VNS CHOICE is available to residents of:
- Brooklyn
- Bronx
- Manhattan
- Queens
- Staten Island
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