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www.southernsenior.info 5 Home Health Fraud Medicare covers most home health services that are con- sidered “reasonable and necessary” for the treatment of an illness or injury usually after a hospital stay. The home health agency must be deemed Medicare-certified. Home Health agencies work with your doctor to evaluate your health care needs and tell you what home care services you need. To be eligible for these services, your doctor must cer- tify that you are homebound. Some of the services that are covered by Medicare are: · Skilled nursing care on a part-time or intermittent basis and must be performed by a registered nurse or a licensed prac- tical nurse. · Physical therapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy. · Home health aide services on a part-time or intermittent basis to assist you with things such as bathing, using the toilet or dressing. Medicare will not pay for anyone to assist you with household chores such as vacuuming or washing clothes. · Durable medical equipment such as walkers, wheelchairs, or bedside commodes. · Certain medical supplies, like wound care dressings that are ordered as part of your care. In general, most home health agencies are honest and use correct billing information. Unfortunately, fraud does occur. Examples of home health fraud include billing for visits that were not made, billing for equipment and supplies that were not received, and billing for equipment and supplies that were not needed. If you want to avoid becoming a victim of home health fraud or think you have been a victim, you should follow Senior Medicare Patrol’s (SMP) message which is to Protect, De- tect and Report! It is very important that you care about what is going on with your Medicare benefits. Your local SMP is ready to provide you with the information you need to PROTECT yourself from Medicare errors, fraud, and abuse; DETECT potential errors, fraud, and abuse; and REPORT your concerns. SMPs use trained senior volun- teers to help educate and empower seniors in the fight against health care fraud. Your SMP can help you with ques- tions, concerns or complaints about potential fraud and abuse issues. SMP also provides information and educa- tional presentations. For assistance in Mississippi, Georgia, and Louisiana, call your local SMP program at 1-877-272-8720. Or to locate your state SMP program visit, www.smpresource.org. This project was supported by a grant (Nos. 90MPPG0049, 90MPPG0024 & 90MPPG0023), from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Depart- ment of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees un- dertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, there- fore, necessarily represent official Administration for Community Living policy. S To You Mom…. By calendar date It’s been over twelve years. But still today I shed fresh tears. I miss the strength that you didn’t lack, The guidance and wisdom that you gave back. I know I will never again have you here, To squelch a sudden heart felt fear. The raising, the love, the advice given, I miss every day since you went to Heaven. I know it’s all in God’s knowing plans. May he comfort your soul in His loving hands. to Audrey Moseman Adams, By Lynne Adams Barze Lynne Adams Barzé www.author-writer-poet.net Mother’s Day Poem