ABSTRACT
Medicare beneficiaries must wait for weeks to see a physician before they get their care covered by Medicare. As a result, patients experience a delay in receiving the care they need. People often need long-term care when they have a severe and ongoing health condition or disability. The need for long-term care can arise suddenly, such as after a heart attack or stroke. The services may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, cognitive therapy, and mental health rehabilitation services. Subacute-level care is less intensive than acute rehabilitation. In a subacute facility, patients receive between 1 and 2 h of therapy per day. The Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act is an amendment to the Act introducing Medicare to revise conditions and limitations on payment for home healthcare services. “Home healthcare” implies medical care provided in a patient’s home.
