Home Health RNs: mileage reimbursement?

Specialties Home Health

Published

How many of you home health RNs get reimbursement for your mileage? I was offered a position but they have not told me anything about salary yet (apparently don't have it worked out?) and when I asked about mileage reimbursement they said it is "not usually reimbursed." Is this the norm??

At our HH agency, we only do private pay, no medicare/medicaid, no oasis. :cool:

I am very happy with my company, LPNs get $37 a visit, RNs get $47. Mileage is considered part of the pay, which I prefer, because then I deduct all the mileage at the end of the year. It drops my taxes like a rock, so I usually get a decent refund at the end of the year. Plus I deduct everything that is legal - scrubs, nursing license, nursing journals, tolls, stethescopes, pulse ox, hand sanitizer, alcohol wipes. The last 2 are supplied by my company, but once in a while I run out and have to buy some.

Like everyone else, our census goes up and down. When I first started, an experienced nurse told me to sign on with at least one other agency, so when things are quiet at one you have work at the other. I also do per diem hospice nursing when things get quiet.

I love getting to know my patients. POCs range from one visit to sometimes a year or more. You become a part of the family when you spend that much time with your patients. I often joke that I get paid to hang out with my friends while doing some nursing care on them! I have remained very close with many of my former patients. In the hospital they come in and out and you never know what happens to them.

As an aside, why do so many HH patients watch the Food Network?

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My agency doesnt cover for mileage but we do a solid 8 or 12 hour shift no visits. The most I get covered is any Tolls I may have to pay. It is ok with me as it is my first and almost only job offer and its only one home a day

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Specializes in School Nursing.

The job I just accepted said they pay mileage at 0.40 cents, but this is only from my home to the first patient house, and then the last patient house back to my home. Do most places reimburse differently?

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Specializes in Hemodialysis.

Usually the mileage is not paid to the first patient and from the last patient to your house but everything is in between. That's odd. Mileage is a big deal, it adds up quickly, and is sometimes the only reimbursement you get for your time when you're paid per visit.

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Specializes in Pedi.
The job I just accepted said they pay mileage at 0.40 cents, but this is only from my home to the first patient house, and then the last patient house back to my home. Do most places reimburse differently?

Are you sure it's not for all miles between the first patient and the last patient? Seems more likely that they would have said they DON'T pay for the miles from your house to the first patient's and from the last patient's to your home as those are considered your commute to/from work.

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Specializes in home health.

I would like to know what the 'norm' is out there! Currently, I am paid from the first house that I go to, to subsequent houses. So for example, if I drive 30 miles to my first house, 3 miles to my second house, and 3 miles to the third house, then go home, I am only being paid for 6 miles, even though I actually drove 66 miles! That is a HUGE amount of wear and tear on my vehicle, not to mention the cost of gasoline! And they do not offer a company vehicle as an alternative.

If anyone out there has a different policy, can you please share with me?

Please send to [email protected]

Thank you!

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You are describing the federal mileage requirements. I have had several jobs where they say my pts will be near me, but I end up working 20 - 30 miles away and all short distances between pts. This is the norm. HH companies are all owned by penny-pinching corps or rich kids looking for a good ROI (return on investment) and HH is great at taking advantage of labor for $$$. 

 

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Specializes in RN.

What are medicare scamming operations? I am working with a home health agency. Little reimbursement. Not hearing about jobs in my area. No online documentation. It is all paper by different pharmacies.

I am concerned about training.

Has anyone heard of Atulo Health, as an aside?

Thank you.

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Wow. Pharmacies aren't really that connected to home health other than your requirements to do medication reconciliation. FYI: There's a difference between nursing at peoples homes and "Home Health Care" as described by CMS.

 

See Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 7 — Home Health Services.  
https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Manuals/Downloads/bp102c07.pdf

 

HH requires OASIS documentation - I have diagnosed dysgraphia! doing an OASIS by hand would kill me!

While your situation seems particularly suspicious, I have come to the conclusion that the entire industry of HH is a "medicare scamming operation." I'm about to delete the video in my last post because I am just learning video editing and have updated it, but check it out if you are weary of your current situation. If you are working in Home Health Care, you should have a patient folder with a medicare hotline to report problems & your orientation should have made sure you educate pts about it. I have called it before to discuss concerns and they are very personable - picking up the phone does not automatically set an auditing machine in motion.

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