Defining Home Health Visits
Medicare Benefit Policy Manual (CMS Pub. 100-02, Ch. 7, § 70.2A)
A visit is an episode of personal contact with the beneficiary by staff of the home health agency, or by others under contract or under arrangement with the home health agency, for the purpose of providing a covered home health service.
Telehealth services are outside the scope of the Medicare home health benefit and Home Health Prospective Payment System (HH PPS). Therefore, Medicare does not provide coverage or payment for home health services provided via a telecommunications system with the exception being a face-to-face encounter performed via telehealth audio/visual service in an approved originating site. Please see the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual (CMS Pub. 100-02, Ch. 7, § 110) for additional information on the use of telehealth in the delivery of home health services.
- Evaluation Visits — Medicare Benefit Policy Manual (CMS Pub. 100-02, Ch. 7, § 70.2C)
- Sequence of Visits — Medicare Benefit Policy Manual (CMS Pub. 100-02, Ch. 7, § 30.2.10)
- Supervisory Visits — Medicare Benefit Policy Manual (CMS Pub. 100-02, Ch. 7, § 70.2C)
- Counting Visits — Medicare Benefit Policy Manual (CMS Pub. 100-02, Ch. 7, § 70.2B)
Reviewed: 07.06.23