Frequently Asked Questions
About Home Health Care
What is home health care?
Home health care is a wide range of skilled health care services provided in your home for an illness, injury, or chronic condition. It is usually less expensive and more convenient than care received in a hospital or skilled nursing facility, and is just as effective when delivered by qualified professionals.
What is the difference between home health care and home care?
Home health care is medically focused — it involves licensed clinicians such as registered nurses and therapists who provide skilled services ordered by a physician. Home care (also called personal care or custodial care) refers to non-medical assistance with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and meal preparation. Guiding Hands provides skilled home health care services.
What services does Guiding Hands Home Health Care provide?
We provide skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, medical social services, and Certified Home Health Aide (CHHA) services — all delivered in the comfort of your home. Each patient receives an individualized plan of care developed in coordination with their physician.
Medicare & Insurance
Is Guiding Hands Medicare-certified?
Yes. Guiding Hands Home Health Care is a Medicare-certified home health agency. This means we meet the federal standards required by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and are authorized to bill Medicare directly for covered services.
What does Medicare cover for home health care?
Medicare Part A and Part B cover 100% of approved home health services with no copay when all eligibility criteria are met. Covered services include skilled nursing visits, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, medical social services, and home health aide services when ordered alongside a skilled service. Medicare does not cover 24-hour care, meal delivery, or custodial care.
Does Medicaid cover home health care?
Yes. California Medi-Cal (Medicaid) covers medically necessary home health services for eligible beneficiaries. Coverage details vary by plan. Our team can help verify your Medi-Cal benefits and coordinate authorization with your managed care plan.
Do you accept private insurance or Medicare Advantage plans?
We work with many private insurance carriers and Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans. Coverage and cost-sharing vary by plan. Please contact our office at (818) 855-1701 and we will verify your benefits before services begin.
Will I receive a bill for home health care services?
If you are covered by Medicare and meet all eligibility requirements, there is typically no out-of-pocket cost for covered home health services. For patients with Medicare Advantage or private insurance, cost-sharing (copays or coinsurance) may apply depending on your plan. We will review your coverage with you before services begin so there are no surprises.
Eligibility & Getting Started
Who qualifies for Medicare-covered home health care?
To qualify for Medicare home health benefits you must: (1) be under the care of a physician who certifies that you need skilled services; (2) be considered "homebound" — meaning leaving home requires considerable effort; (3) need one or more of the following: intermittent skilled nursing care, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, or continued occupational therapy; and (4) receive services from a Medicare-certified agency like Guiding Hands.
What does "homebound" mean?
A patient is considered homebound when leaving home requires a considerable and taxing effort due to illness or injury. This includes patients who need assistive devices (walker, wheelchair, crutches), require the assistance of another person to leave home, or have a condition such as dementia or severe shortness of breath that makes leaving home medically inadvisable. Brief, infrequent absences — such as a medical appointment or a short trip — do not disqualify a patient from homebound status.
Do I need a doctor's order to start home health care?
Yes. Medicare requires that a physician, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or physician assistant certify your need for home health services and establish a plan of care. If you were recently discharged from a hospital or skilled nursing facility, your discharge planner can coordinate the referral. You may also ask your primary care physician to refer you directly.
How do I get started with Guiding Hands?
Call us at (818) 855-1701 or submit a patient inquiry through our website. Our intake team will verify your insurance, confirm your eligibility, and coordinate with your physician to obtain the necessary orders. We aim to begin services within 24–48 hours of receiving a referral.
Can I choose my own home health agency?
Yes. Under Medicare, you have the right to choose any Medicare-certified home health agency that serves your area. If you are being discharged from a hospital, the discharge planner must provide you with a list of agencies — you are not required to use a specific agency.
Care & Quality
What do medical social workers do?
Our licensed medical social workers (MSWs) help patients and families address the social, emotional, and practical challenges that come with illness or injury. Services include counseling, community resource referrals, assistance with advance care planning, coordination with discharge planners, and connecting patients with support programs such as transportation, meal services, and financial assistance. Medical social services are covered by Medicare when ordered by a physician as part of your plan of care.
What is a Certified Home Health Aide (CHHA)?
A Certified Home Health Aide (CHHA) is a trained and state-certified caregiver who assists patients with personal care activities such as bathing, grooming, dressing, and mobility. CHHAs work under the direct supervision of a registered nurse and are an important part of the home health care team. Medicare covers CHHA services when they are ordered alongside a skilled service (nursing or therapy) as part of an approved plan of care.
Who will be providing my care?
Your care team may include registered nurses (RNs), licensed vocational nurses (LVNs), physical therapists (PTs), occupational therapists (OTs), and speech-language pathologists (SLPs). All clinical staff are fully licensed by the State of California, background-checked, and covered by professional liability insurance.
How often will a clinician visit my home?
Visit frequency is determined by your physician-approved plan of care and your individual clinical needs. Skilled nursing visits are typically intermittent — for example, two to three times per week — and are adjusted as your condition improves. Your care team will communicate any recommended changes to your physician.
What happens if I have an urgent need after hours?
We have on-call clinical staff available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you experience an urgent health concern outside of regular office hours, call our main number at (818) 855-1701 and you will be connected to the on-call nurse.
How is my privacy protected?
Guiding Hands Home Health Care complies fully with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Your medical information is kept strictly confidential and is only shared with members of your care team and authorized parties as required for your treatment and billing.
What geographic areas do you serve?
Guiding Hands Home Health Care serves all areas within Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. If you are unsure whether we serve your specific address, please call us at (818) 855-1701 and our team will be happy to confirm.
Patient Rights & Compliance
What are my rights as a home health patient?
As a Medicare home health patient you have the right to: be informed of your rights in writing before care begins; receive care without discrimination; be told in advance about the care you will receive and any changes to your plan; refuse treatment; have your privacy and property respected; and file a grievance without fear of retaliation. We will provide you with a full Patient Rights document at the start of care.
How do I file a complaint or grievance?
You may file a complaint directly with Guiding Hands by calling (818) 855-1701 or by speaking with your supervising nurse. You also have the right to contact the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Home Health Agency Program or the Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) at any time.
What is the Home Health Compare tool?
Home Health Compare is a free tool on Medicare.gov that allows you to compare the quality of care provided by Medicare-certified home health agencies in your area. It includes data on patient outcomes, patient experience surveys, and process-of-care measures. We encourage patients and families to use this resource when choosing an agency.
Still have questions? We're here to help.
Contact Us