mileage issue/home health issues

annaedRN, RN · Jun 22, 2008

I do get 50.5 cents a mile - the IRS rate. It's better than alot of people are receiving, but even so - with the rising costs of everything you better believe that we are trying to get it raised. As well as starting to be more adamant about only taking patients in our "territories". I have been very upfront about not going into the office unless absolutely necessary and that even if I finish up at 1-2 I am staying at home to chart - not putting extra miles to go sit somewhere else to chart (and get less charting done because all of the office people want to chat)

icare4icu · Jun 23, 2008

How about starting the visit as early as you can. When my patient tells me that they are up early, I offer them an early schedule. I had a patient who gets up at 3 AM, and saw that patient at 4 Am. I had 8 patients that day and I was done by 10AM. Also , when I have a full day visit, I let my husband who is retired drive and I chart away while he is driving. The office know and as long as I don't take him inside my patient's home, it is alright. Most of the time the patient invites him in but we refuse. It's an everyday, M-F hurdle and you need to improvise to get the visits done and patients seen.

Homie · Jun 27, 2008

:banghead: Effective July 1st the Federal rate for mileage is going to 58 1/2 cents per mile....we are still at 40 cents. I had to replace my car this year picked up a carpayment, higher ins., less fuel effic. down from 38 mpg to 28 mpg...because it's all I could afford. Our rate for LPN's (that's me!!) is 17.00 a visit, unless we have to do a bath...then it's 13.00. We have not had a pay raise of any kind in over 4 years. I'm full time....and I get the privelege of paying for health ins. with med co-pays too high to afford the meds I need. If I don't come up with $3000.00 for a down payment on the house I live in by the end of the year, I'll be living in my car.

The company just paid for all of it's regional mgr's....about 30 or so...to go to a week long meeting in Dallas....where it seems they discussed everything, but the need to do anything about providing a livable wage for their field staff.

Thanks for the venting space.....PS, my mgr told me to take the difference off my income tax at the end of the year on mileage....except I can't itemize....now I'm in the dog house for telling her that.....but I wasn't going to let anyone think I was that unknowing.....it's not an option.

If I could afford it....I'd like some cheese with this whine...

:twocents: :angryfire

RubyRN,CHPN · Jun 27, 2008

Wow, these stories are amazing. Last year I left my long time position where I had over 10 years in at a rural free standing home health agency to work at a hospital based home health agency an hour commute away. With a raise of 50% my base wage at my previous employer and 50.5 cents a mile mileage while I am out seeing pts, I am still money ahead by the 50 mile drive to work. I drive a 10 year old Honda car that's paid for. I don't plan to trade it in anytime soon. A tank of gas last about three days. My gas bill is roughly $400 a month. I negotiated with my employer to work longer work days vs. working 5-8's. I love home health and have no desire to change my current "gig." I guess it pays to shop employers if you are able.

Homie · Jun 27, 2008

Thanks for the hope. I wasn't doing bad until I needed to stop driving my Toyota, and before I could have the enginge seals replaced...I had to have 2 teeth pulled. I have one app in at another agency....and 2 more if that one doesn't work out. What makes this as bad as it is, the poor attitude of the office staff toward the field staff. The office staff whined enough...that they are now getting paid to drive to work....Because the one raise a year, they always get, wasn't enough for them!!!

RubyRN,CHPN · Jun 27, 2008

Don't be afraid to ask for what you need because you have experience. Remember, the more experience you have the less orientation you will probably need.

HmarieD · Jun 27, 2008

My agency pays .37/mile and every nurse here has been complaining for months to no avail :banghead: . I just read in the newspaper that the Feds increased the rate to 58.5 cents. We are told we can deduct the difference on our taxes, but I have to have $10,700.00 in deductions before they count, so that doesn't work for me. The .37 does cover the cost of gas for me ( my car gets great mileage) but doesn't go very far towards maintenance and the higher cost of insurance due to using my vehicle for work.

Homie · Jun 27, 2008

:angryfire hmaried....i am in the same boat!!!! except my great mileage car is good for local stuff only, until i can have it fixed. so, my ins. is up 30.00 a month, a car payment of 200.00 a month.....and cost of gas up almost 2.00 a gal. since the last adjustment. my mileage is down to 25 to 28 mpg, from 35 to 38 mpg in the toyota.

[color=#a0522d] come quickly, lord jesus. come quickly, please. :redpinkhe

guardwife · Jun 28, 2008

I am on my second HH job. My first job managment was awful but we were always reimbursed at the IRS rate. My second emplyer does not reimburse at that rate. Currently I am getting $.44/ mile. This is in New England too where gas is so high. My question is how can HH companies decide what to reimburse. And no I can not claim this on my taxes.

NurseSnarky · Jun 28, 2008

I am starting HH in a few weeks, and I am looking forward to it (sort of). I came to this thread and I'm getting a little queasy now. I was told I would get 50 1/2 cents a mile (and I'm hoping that will be bumped up to the 58 1/2 cents). My wage is one of the higher in the hospital (I just got a raise in PACU and when I interviewed I asked how much the HH position paid - the same as the PACU position w/raise...so no paycut).

I am worried about racking up mileage on my paid off car (I commute to work 40miles rt), I am worried about where I'll be going to the bathroom during the day, worried about getting my charting done, eating, not working overtime - which I guess is so strongly discouraged that there is talk of writing people up over it. I have to buy new scrubs since I am coming from the OR...and my old scrubs are too big for me now. Oh and we have to take call...one week out of five and one weekend out of five. But HH call is much better than OR call! If I know I have a Saturday visit, then I only get overtime pay (and that is "okay" with the powers that be)...but if I get called for something that can't wait until Monday, it's double-time.

I had no idea that I could possibly chart at home...so I am going to ask about that. We have computer charting.

I am so burnt out right now with OR/PACU that I felt I could overlook a lot of my worries mentioned above. I do not like floor nursing...it's just not me (zero autonomy for one). I told myself if a Home Health position came up I would be on it.

I also came here to learn the "tricks of the trade" and the circle back method sounds great along with the charting at home.

allele, LPN · Jun 29, 2008

Our agency gives us whatever the IRS allows, we were getting the max of 50 1/2 cents per mile, and the IRS raised it to 58 1/2 cents per mile from July 1 to January 1, just got the notice. We don't get paid going to first visit or going home from last, unless we start and end at office, then we get that mileage too! :) No complaints, I guess, except for the rising gas prices. Bleah. Luckily I live quite close to my area. As far as pay, I'm geting paid $1.60 less per hour than I did at the hospital, BUT I'm working 40 hours a week vs. 36 at the hospital, so my yearly pay went up about $5,000. Could be worse, I guess. I'm new to HH nursing, and I'm finding that 40 hour weeks don't exist anyway, it's more like 45-50 hour weeks! I may drop to 32 hour weeks, at this rate. But I do enjoy it! :)

DriBak · Jun 29, 2008

My agency pays .37/mile