Field Supply Question

[bsrn0523]

hey fellow home healthers! i work as a field rn for a local home health agency, and i am a little perturbed about something. i came in and asked for gloves and a few cotton tipped applicators and was told "no, you should be replenshing your supply from the pts. home when they receive supplies from insurance". generally, pts. have the supplies needed, but there are some glaring exceptions- like gloves, cotton tipped applicators, etc.... i was told that if i bought any supplies, that i wouldn't be reimbursed by the agency either. i am a little bit miffed, is this normal?

[annaedRN, RN]

I think in essence, though maybe unfair, your agency is correct. With Medicare, the reimbursement is for everything -visits, HHA, supplies..., but with other insurances the patient is supposed to be supplying everything. I believe they can submit some to insurance( actual dressings, tape) but things like you mentioned are not usually covered and should be bought by the patient. We have a "free room" where we keep donated stuff or things that patients give to us when discharged, wounds healed, etc...and we can usually scrape together enough to help them out.

[caliotter3]

The only agency that provided supplies to nurses that I've ever come across was the agency that I precepted with when in nursing school. One agency reluctantly started supplying us with gloves when they started to emphasize hand hygiene. That's it. I sometimes get something out of my own pocket to suit myself but I know I won't be reimbursed for it. You have to watch yourself with this. It can add up. Like when teachers buy supplies for their classrooms out of their own pockets. I place a limit on what I pay for myself.