Home care patients often benefit from the services of a social worker. Home health social workers are required to be master’s level, medical social workers. A social worker can help determine if the patient is eligible for federal, state or local programs to provide them with Meals On Wheels, financial assistance with electric bills or medications, assistance with legal issues, estate planning, or personal counseling services for the patient and their caregivers. Social workers can assume the role of liaison between the patient and Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance to coordinate benefits and provide many other areas of assistance.

If you or someone you know is a home health patient, please be aware of this often under-utilized home health service. Each home care agency is required to have a medical social worker on staff to make home visits AT NO CHARGE to the patient. To get started, the medical social worker will need to see your insurance cards, identification and some financial records. It is often a good idea to have a family member present when the social worker visits in order to help fill in the details.

If you are interested in getting medical social worker assistance, speak to your case management RN or doctor. He or she can request and obtain permission to set up the referral and get you started. For more information on how a medical social worker can help you or your situation, please contact us online , or call 888-428-3600, a Haven representative will be happy to assist you.