There are more than 2,000 private pay and Medicare/Medicaid certified home care agencies located in Texas. The Texas Association for Home Care & Hospice promotes quality patient care and economic viability for all Texas licensed home care providers. Home care services are alternative resources that allow individuals to recover and recuperate from illness or injury at home. Texas home health care agencies must be licensed and adhere to all state and federal home care regulations.
Function
Home health services provide individuals with preventive, acute and sub-acute, rehabilitative and long-term care medical support. Licensed nurses deliver nursing services, wound care, intravenous therapy, respite care and related services. Services also include physical therapy, occupational therapy and other forms of rehabilitation delivered by licensed professionals. The Texas Association for Home Care & Hospice details specific home care regulations, and requires that all agencies enforce written policies regarding client care practices for health and safety.
Licensing
Texas home health agencies must be licensed according to the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services. The home agency must be located in Texas and owners must be 18 years or older, and applicants are evaluated and screened to ensure safety and welfare of the public. Licensed and certified home health agencies must also obtain certification from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which is the government agency in charge of Medicare and Medicaid. A home health license is valid for two years and must be renewed to continue providing services.
Types
There are three primary types of Texas home care services prescribed by physicians, and they include home health care, personal care services and hospice care. Home health care includes a medical plan of treatment to help individuals recover from illness or injury. It includes family education with services provided by nurses, physical therapists, home health aides and other licensed professionals.
Personal care services include non-medical services such as private duty nursing, personal assistance, homemaker services and help with bathing or feeding.
Hospice home care is provided for individuals who have a terminal illness, and services include pain management, medication management, 24-hour professional staff access, nursing care, counseling services and other end-of-life support. Texas state regulations require all home care agencies to have end-of-life policies that respect the dignity of every patient.
Benefits
The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services requires home care agencies to protect and promote client rights. The Texas home care system offers benefits for individuals that include nursing care after hospital discharge, management of chronic illness such as diabetes or kidney disease, support for terminal illness, assistance for patients with little or no mobility and support for children with life-sustaining equipment. Home care services benefit individuals by allowing early hospital discharge, providing easy access to professional medical teams, offering personalized care, delivering cost-effective care and allowing individuals to recuperate at home.
Locations
Care Pathways provides a comprehensive listing of Texas home care agencies that provide medical and non-medical support services. Resources are categorized by city and include agency name, address, email, map and other pertinent details, and they verify if the agency is Medicare certified.
References
- My Home Care & Hospice Choices: 2008 Home Care Month Commercial
- Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services: Licensing Standards for Home and Community Support Services Agencies Handbook, Criteria and Eligibility for Licensing
- My Home Care & Hospice Choices: Who Uses Home Care?
- Care Pathways: Home Care Agency Directory Listings for Texas (TX)
- Texas Association for Home Care & Hospice: About TAHC
