There are many options when it comes to finding a caregiver to come into your home. The terminology and marketing verbiage used to entice the consumer can make it difficult to really understand what your options are and which option is best for you.
The concept of private-duty care has been around for many years. Many people use this term to indicate care that is paid for directly by the consumer, not Medicare or Medicaid. This care can be provided by the individual caregiver, referral from a nurse registry or through a home health agency.
According to the Private Care Association, for consumers who wish to manage their own home care, registries provide just-in-time access to pre-background-screened, pre-credential-verified caregivers. Registries also can provide administrative support for such home-care relationships. However, that is all they do, because registries are designed to accommodate consumers who want to manage their own home care, which academics call the “consumer-directed” option.
Licensed home care or home health agencies are certified by a state agency to assure all Medicare requirements for participation have been met. If a physician writes an order for skilled nursing care or other health care services, Medicare will cover services that meet certain criteria. Services are reimbursement driven and directed by the agency, not the consumer.
As the consumer, you must know what type of care you are eligible for and require. A geriatric care manager, health care professional or social services professional can help you determine the scope of care you need and if that care might be eligible for reimbursement. When care needs do not meet criteria for medically reimbursable care, you are typically looking at private duty care.
The key then becomes knowing what steps the agency or registry goes through to screen, verify and credential that caregiver.
At a minimum, you want to know:
● Has a thorough background check been completed (multi-state)?
● Have abuse registries been checked?
● Who interviewed the caregiver? Can you interview the caregiver?
● Have the caregiver’s credentials been verified?
● Does the person providing the care have professional liability insurance?
● If the caregiver is an individual or on a registry, do they have an Employee Identification Number and has he or she completed a W-9 for tax reporting? Who will issue the 1099?
● If the caregiver is employed by a home health agency, how are they trained and supervised?
● What is the cost of care, and is it negotiable?
● Who determines what caregiver comes to your home and what hours they will work? Can you as the consumer help determine this?
The bottom line is finding and using a company you can trust. The risks of hiring an “underground” caregiver are very high and can put a great deal of burden on the consumer. The advantage is often a lower cost, but beware of the potential risks in going this route. The adage,“you get what you pay for,” is often as true in home care as it is in life. As a consumer, you need the protection of a registry or agency to ensure that the caregiver coming to your home has been appropriately screened and that you have a point of contact to provide administrative support, back-up, care in a crisis, or change a caregiver when requested. Safety and quality come first and with a few simple questions, you can ensure the best fit for the care you need for your father.ordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!
Written by Amy Natt, MS, CMC, CSA