Military Health, Tricare programs - Army Times

Home health

Tricare offers home health care benefits, including coverage of medical equipment, supplies, certain therapies and nursing care to homebound patients whose conditions make home visits necessary.

Under this benefit, Tricare covers skilled nursing provided by a registered nurse under a physician’s supervision, physical therapy from a licensed physical therapist, and speech pathology from a licensed speech therapist.

There are certification or licensure requirements for other professional disciplines that provide home health services.

Patients who require daily skilled care for more than 28 hours per week should be considered for care in a skilled nursing facility. In the case of skilled nursing services, coverage can be extended when the following conditions are met:

•The services are ordered by, and included in, the treatment plan established by the physician.

•The services require the skills of a registered nurse under the supervision of another nurse or a physician.

•Detailed nursing notes are kept for skilled nursing services.

Home health aide and medical social work services can be provided under the hospice benefit.

An enhanced home health care option is available to active-duty dependents as part of ECHO. This permits home care for more than 28 hours per week and provides some respite care for active-duty family members.