Definition of Homebound
The patient's condition must be such that leaving the
home requires an extremely taxing effort.
In
most instances a "homebound" patient's absence from home will occur for the purpose of receiving medical treatment.
Absences are infrequent, are of relatively short duration
and do not indicate that the patient has the capacity to obtain health care provided outside rather than inside the home.
If patient's condition, due to an illness or injury,
restricts the patient's ability to leave home except with the aid of supportive device: cane, wheelchair, walker, maximum
assistance of another person.
If patient's
condition is such that leaving home is medically contradicted.
Any absence for religious services is deemed to be an absence of infrequent or short duration, and
thus does not negate homebound status.
Reimbursement
for home health services is contingent upon the claimant being "confined to home." (5240.1) Failure to meet these
guidelines means that the individual is unable to receive home health services under Medicare benefits.
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