OIG Allows Introductory Visits For Home Health - 10/6/2015

An OIG Advisory Opinion Number 15-12 issued on August 6, 2015 a letter to a home health agency approving their request to furnish non-medical introductory visits.  This visit can only be done after the home health agency has been selected by the patient. Per the letter the Introductory Visits is to facilitate the patient’s transition to home health services in an effort to increase compliance with the post-acute treatment plan.

The Introductory visit is performed by a Liaison of the home health agency.  The Liaison would probably be an LPN.  This visit is limited to the following.  (1) Provide an overview of the home health experience. (2) Give the patient written materials that list the contact information for some of the agencies administrative and clinical employees. (3) Shares pictures of members of the agencies care team who will furnish home health services.

The Liaison does not provide any type of diagnostic or therapeutic services reimbursed by Federal health care programs during the the Introductory Visit, and does not leave any other items or materials with the patient.  This is non covered visit for billing Medicare or Medicaid.

For more information:

http://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/docs/advisoryopinions/2015/AdvOpn15-12.pdf