Caring : National Association for Home Care magazine
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Americans are turning more and more to alternative medicine for treatment of chronic conditions. Western medicine, however, has so far failed to recognize this trend. Many aspects of health care need to address this shift--beginning with training for health care practitioners.
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Most home care providers know that Medicare covers home care nursing; home care aide and medical social services; physical, speech, and occupational therapy; as well as medical supplies and durable medical equipment. However, few agencies realize that they can also use dietitians and respiratory therapists to help meet their patients' needs. Also, few agencies use available resources or establish programs to deliver care to special-needs populations. Yet all of these home care services are reimbursable under the Medicare home health benefit.