Home Care Definitions:

Accredited – agency that is surveyed for the highest quality standards.

ADL’s – Activities of Daily Living.

Assignments of Benefits – patient or responsible party sign to have insurance paid directly to agency.

Certified – agency has initial and ongoing oversight by Medicare

CHAP – Community Health Accreditation Program – one of the two accrediting bodies.

Companion – employee that cannot provide any hands on care.

DME – Durable Medical Equipment.

Fee for Service – reimbursement mechanism for home health agencies.

Licensed – oversight by state Dept. of Health.

MSE – medical supplies and equipment.

Non-medical – providing hands-off care, such as errands, laundry, housekeeping.

Office of Aging – government organization that provides ADL’s after skilled care.

Private Duty – care paid for by patient or responsible party.

Palliative care – care focused on comfort, quality of life, symptom management.

Registry – agency that does not pay unemployment or workman’s compensation to its employees.

Skilled Intermittent – provided by certified agencies when patient had acute care needs, referrals are from hospitals and physicians, reimbursed by Medicare or any other third party reimburser.

Telehealth – remote monitoring of vital signs, medication administration and activities of daily living.

 

Keystone Home Health Services, Inc. is an independent, Medicare and Medicaid licensed agency providing comprehensive home care in Bucks, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties since 1992.