Homebound

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

Not sure if I should post here on in the AL section. What constitutes homebound status if the person lives in AL/IL? I know the definition of homebound for Medicare is something like leaving the home requires assist and a taxing effort (loosely worded). IF someone lives in an AL or IL are the hallways and common area considered to be part of their home? The dining room? the Library?

[HmarieD]

I work in Illinois, but I think that Medicare guidellines should be universal for every state.

Homebound as defined by Medicare means that you leave your home infrequently, for short periods of time, and that leaving the home requires a great and taxing effort. Patients are allowed to leave home for medical appointments, church services, and once in a lifetime occasions such as weddings, funerals, etc.

"great and taxing effort" can mean a lot of different things. Generally speaking, if the patient requires assistance from another person they would qualify; there has been some recent discussion that being able to drive would not automatically exclude a person from homebound status, if they are only driving short distances and there is no other way for them to get their basic needs met (grocery shopping, MD appt, etc.) That opens up a sort of Pandora's box in my opinion but that is the latest "wisdom" coming down from CMS.

In cases when a patient has a psychiatric condition that causes them to be unable to leave their home, like agoraphobia, they can be considered homebound even if they have a high level of physical functioning.

So...clear as mud?