As a patient of a Medicare-approved home health agency, you have several rights and the home health agency must provide you with a written copy of them. They include the following:
- You have the right to choose your home health agency. More information on this is below.
- You have the right to have your property treated with respect.
- You have the right to have your family or guardian act for you, if you are unable.
- The right to complain to the agency or the State Survey Agency about your treatment or care if it is not provided, or staff shows disrespect for you or your property
- The right to be given a copy of your plan of care so that you can ask questions about your care or about the home health agency's staff assigned to your care.
Freedom to Choose Your Home Health Agency
- If your doctor decides you need home health care, you have the freedom to choose among a list of participating Medicare-certified home health agencies that serve your geographic area.
- Your doctor, hospital discharge planner, or other referring agency should honor your choice.
- Although you have a say in which agency you use, your choices may be limited by agency availability, or by your insurance coverage. (Managed care plans may require that you receive home health services from agencies they contract with).
- The discharge plan should also identify any of the home health agencies in which the hospital has a financial interest.