Examples of Homebound Patients

             A patient paralyzed from a stroke who is confined to a wheelchair or requires the aid of

                  crutches in order to walk

             A patient who is blind or senile and requires the assistance of another person in leaving

                  their place of residence

             A patient who has lost the use of their upper extremities and, therefore, is unable to open

                  doors, use handrails on stairways, etc., and requires the assistance of another individual

                  to leave their place of residence

             A patient in the late stages of ALS or a neurodegenerative disability.  In determining

                  whether the patient has the general inability to leave the home and leaves the home

                  only infrequently or for periods of short duration, it is necessary (as is the case in 

                  determining whether skilled nursing services are intermittent) to look at the patient's

                  condition over a period of time rather than for short periods within the home health

                  stay.  For example, a patient may leave the home (under the conditions described above,

                  e.g., with severe and taxing effort, with the assistance of others) more frequently during

                  a short period when, for example, the presence of visiting relatives provides a unique

                  opportunity for such absences, than is normally the case.  So long as the patient's overall

                  condition and experience is such that he or she meets these qualifications, he or she should

                  be considered confined to the home.

             A patient who has just returned from a hospital stay involving surgery who may be suffering

                  from resultant weakness and pain and, therefore, their actions may be restricted by their

                  physician to certain specified and limited activities such as getting out of bed only for a 

                  specified period of time, walking stairs only once a day, etc...

             A patient with arteriosclerotic heart disease of such severity that they must avoid all stress

                  and physical activity

             A patient with a psychiatric illness that is manifested in part by a refusal to leave home is of

                  such a nature that it would not be considered safe for the patient to leave home unattended,

                  even if they have no physical limitations

The aged person who does not often travel form home because of feebleness and insecurity brought on by advanced age would not be considered confined to the home for purposes of receiving home health services unless they meet one of the above conditions.

For More Information on Homebound Status Criteria, 

Visit www.medicare.gov.