For Families & Patients

Bringing skilled care home — for the people who matter most.

A hospital discharge, a new diagnosis, a recent fall — these moments come fast. We've walked thousands of Central Florida families through what home health means, what Medicare covers, and what to expect. Talk to an intake nurse. The call is free.

Caregiver sharing a warm moment with an elderly family member
Step-by-Step

How to start home health for a parent or loved one

Home health follows a clear path from referral to care. Here's exactly what happens — and where you have choices.

You have the right to choose. Hospitals must provide a list of Medicare-certified home health agencies and cannot steer you to a specific one. You can request Kassy Health by name.

1

Get a physician order

Home health requires a physician's order and a signed plan of care. If your loved one is being discharged from the hospital, the discharge planner initiates this. If they're at home, ask their primary care physician.

2

Choose an agency

You have the right to choose which Medicare-certified agency provides care. Kassy Health is on every major hospital list in Central Florida. You can request us by name.

3

Call us directly

You don't have to wait for the hospital to call. Call (407) 875-1801 and we'll coordinate with the discharge team on your behalf.

4

Initial nurse visit

Within 48 hours, a registered nurse will visit, complete an assessment, and develop a plan of care with the physician. You're encouraged to be present.

5

Care begins

Visits are scheduled per the plan. You'll have one primary case manager and a 24/7 on-call clinical line for questions between visits.

Medicare Coverage

What Medicare covers

Medicare Part A and Part B cover home health care at 100% of approved costs for patients who are homebound, under a physician's care, and need part-time skilled nursing or therapy. There is no copay for skilled services and no Medicare deductible for home health.

Source: Medicare.gov — Home health services.

Covered at 100% Medicare-covered skilled services (no copay)
Skilled nursing visits (wound care, IV therapy, medication management)
Physical therapy
Occupational therapy
Speech-language pathology
Medical social work
Home health aide (when skilled services are also ordered)

Durable medical equipment (DME) — such as wound vacs, walkers, or hospital beds — is covered at 80%, with a 20% coinsurance. Kassy Health verifies all coverage during intake and confirms any out-of-pocket costs before care begins.

Understanding the Difference

Home health vs. home care — what's the difference?

These two terms are often confused — but they mean very different things for coverage and what your loved one receives.

Home Health (Kassy Health) Home Care
Provided byMedicare-certified agencyNon-medical agency or private hire
ServicesSkilled nursing, PT, OT, speech, social work, aideCompanionship, housekeeping, transportation
Who orders itPhysicianFamily
Visit length45–75 minutes per disciplineTypically 4–12 hours
Who paysMedicare, Medicaid, most insuranceOut of pocket, long-term care insurance
GoalRecovery, clinical stability, skilled careDaily living support & companionship

Many families use both. Kassy Health provides the skilled medical care; a separate home care agency provides daily companionship. Our intake nurses can recommend trusted home care partners in your area.

Kassy Health nurse on a first-week home visit with a patient in Central Florida
First Week

What to expect in the first week

  • Intake call (Day 1): Our team calls within four business hours of the referral to confirm scheduling, address, and insurance. This is not a medical visit — it's a quick coordination call.
  • First nurse visit (48 hrs): A registered nurse visits your home, completes a full assessment, reviews medications, and discusses the care plan. Bring any discharge paperwork from the hospital.
  • Equipment delivery: If ordered, durable medical equipment arrives within 1–2 business days of the physician's order.
  • Care rhythm begins: Visits are scheduled per the plan — frequency depends on diagnosis and physician orders. You'll have one primary case manager throughout.
  • 24/7 on-call line: For clinical questions between visits, call the on-call number on your Kassy Health welcome packet. For emergencies, always call 911.
Common Questions

Frequently asked by families

We call within four business hours of receiving a referral and send a nurse within 48 hours. If a physician's order is already in place, we can often begin the same or next day. Call us at (407) 875-1801 to confirm timing for your specific situation.

This is one of the most common concerns families bring to us. Our intake nurses and case managers are experienced at building trust with reluctant patients — often starting with a simple introductory visit focused on meeting the patient where they are. We don't push. We listen first. In most cases, patients warm to home health once they've met their nurse in their own home.

We assign one primary case manager to every patient — that's the nurse you'll hear from most often and who coordinates the plan. While scheduling occasionally requires a backup clinician, continuity is a core commitment at Kassy Health. You'll always know who your primary case manager is.

Kassy Health has a 24/7 clinical on-call line for current patients. Visits can be scheduled outside standard business hours when medically necessary. Our office hours for new intake and referrals are Monday–Friday, 8 am–5 pm. For after-hours clinical questions, call the number in your welcome packet.

Yes. Kassy Health has Spanish-speaking clinical staff and can match Spanish-speaking patients with a bilingual case manager when available. Please let us know the preferred language during your intake call. Language assistance services are also available at no cost to patients. Servicios de asistencia de idiomas disponibles sin costo.

Kassy Health accepts most Medicare Advantage plans operating in Central Florida in addition to traditional Medicare. Coverage and prior authorization requirements vary by plan. We verify your specific plan during intake and will tell you clearly what is covered before care begins — no surprises.

We're Here

Talk to an intake nurse

The call is free. We'll tell you what Medicare covers, what to expect, and whether home health is the right fit — even if Kassy isn't the right agency for you.

Monday–Friday, 8 am–5 pm EST. After hours, leave a message — we'll call back by 9 am the next business day.