FAQs

1. What is home health care?

Home health care is a type of care that is administered in the comfort of one's own home. Nurses and therapists will come to a person's home on a schedule predetermined by their needs and upon recommendation of their doctor.

2. How do I know if I need home health care?

• Are you homebound?
• Have you been diagnosed with a new illness?
• Have your medications changed recently?
• Has your medical condition changed recently?
• Do you require therapy services?
• Do you need skilled nursing services?
• Would you rather be cared for in your home than a nursing home?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, home health care may benefit you.

3. What if I live in an assisted living or independent living facility, can I still get home health care?

Yes, you can receive home health care at an assisted living or independent living facility since that is considered your home.

4. How can I get First Choice Home Health to treat me at home?

Just give us a call. We are happy to help you get the services you need. If you have a surgery planned, or other anticipated needs, we can even get the ball rolling ahead of time.

5. How do I pay for home health care?

Home health care is covered by Medicare and most private insurance companies. Call us at (406) 551-2273 so we can help you determine if you are eligible to receive home health care.

6. What’s the difference between home health care and having a private duty nurse or caregiver come to my home?

The table below outlines the differences between home health care and private duty nursing/personal care services.

First Choice Home Health Services at a Glance	Home Health - Skilled Care	Private Duty Nursing
Patient is required to be homebound* (see related box)	Yes	No
Visit times and length determined by patient	No	Yes
Agency will bill medical insurance	Yes	No
Agency will bill long term care policy	No (not applicable for home health)	Yes (if applicable)
Agency will bill patient privately	Yes (if no medical insurance)	Yes
Must have doctor’s orders to care for patient	Yes	No
Must require the skills of a registered nurse or physical therapist	Yes	No
Personal care services and assistance with activities of daily living not related to the medical treatment of a patient's illness or injury are provided	No	Yes
* Homebound Status: Homebound status is what qualifies a patient for home health care services. Homebound status is a Medicare regulation that states a patient’s absences from the home must be a taxing effort, infrequent and in most instances for the purposes of receiving health care treatment.