Home health agencies by state

What is a home health agency?

A home health agency sends nurses, therapists and aides to a patient’s home, usually after a hospital stay or for an illness or injury, when a doctor orders the care. Medicare covers home health care for people who are eligible and mostly unable to leave home. The address below is the agency’s office: care is given in the patient’s home.

How Medicare rates them

Medicare gives home health agencies two star ratings from 1 to 5: quality of patient care (how often patients got better at daily activities and how often they went to the hospital) and the patient survey rating (what patients said about their care). Ratings are one piece of information: call, visit, and talk with your doctor about what matters for your care.

What to ask when you call or visit

• Is the agency certified by Medicare, and does it serve your ZIP code?
• Does it offer the services your doctor ordered (nursing, physical, occupational or speech therapy, aide visits)?
• How soon can the first visit happen, and how often will staff come?
• Who do you call at night or on weekends if there is a problem?
• Will the same nurse or therapist usually come? How do they share updates with your doctor?
• Are staff licensed, background-checked and trained for your condition? Do any speak your language?
• What will Medicare, Medicaid or your insurance pay, and what might you pay? Ask for it in writing.

In a medical emergency, call 911.