What Is Home Health Care?

Home health care is any medical or personal care service that is provided in the home by licensed or certified personnel. Under Medicare, the service must be performed by people who are employed or under contractual agreement with a state-licensed, Medicare-certified home health agency.

Who Uses Home Health Care?

People receive home health care for many different reasons and at different stages of illness. They may be treated in the hospital then receive follow-up home care on an intermittent basis or, in some cases, receive care entirely in the home as an alternative to hospitalization.