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1. Who can Choose Acton Nursing Services as their home health care provider?

Acton Nursing Services can be chosen by any patient. In most cases, Medicare, Medicaid and most commercial insurance companies cover the cost of services provided to their covered patients by Acton Nursing Services.

2. Can Medicare patients choose Acton Nursing Services as their home health care provider?

In general, yes. One of the important rights granted to Medicare patients is the right to select the provider they prefer. This right applies to Medicare patients who have traditional Medicare or a Medigap policy through an insurance company (such as Core and Supplement 1 Medigap policies offered in Massachusetts). Some Medicare Advantage plan members may also use ANS but coverage and acceptance should be confirmed.

3. Can Medicaid patients choose Acton Nursing Services as their home health care provider?

Yes. Medicaid and Mass Health patients can choose ANS as their home health care provider subject to the rules and reimbursement rates established by those entities.

4. Is Acton Nursing Services required to accept all patients referred to the agency?

In practice, yes, provided ANS has the capacity to serve (in other words, has the skills, time and resources to accept and successfully treat a patient). As a Medicare certified agency, ANS is expected to accept referrals irrespective of source of reimbursement (government insurance, private insurance, etc.).

5. Can a health care provider (physician, nurse, administrator, discharge planner, etc.) direct a patient to a specific home health care provider?

In most cases, no, because patients have the right to choose their provider. With Medicare, Medicaid and many insurance plans the patient’s right to choose their home health care provider is specifically spelled out. Patients seeking home health care on discharge from a hospital or nursing home or at the recommendation of their physician or other health care professional should be provided with a comprehensive list of appropriate local providers. Patients are encouraged to review the providers with their families, insurance carrier and medical professionals and choose which agency is most likely to best serve their needs; they should make their own decision without undue influence.

6. Does ANS provide services to patients covered by long term care agreements?

Generally, no, because home care under long term care insurance focuses on assistance with daily living (ADL) which is typically a personal care service (bathing, cooking, housekeeping, shopping, companionship) rather than a skilled medical service. ANS does not provide ADL services because these are not within its defined scope but stands ready to provide skilled medical/nursing services to these patients if the need arises. In some instances skilled nursing services delivered at home may be covered by long term care insurance but this should be confirmed.