posted
I am looking for a facility that will (hopefully) be in network with my Aetna PPO California plan for home health. I did IV back in 2006 and used Coram Home Healthcare but they are no longer contracted with Aetna.
If anyone can recommend a home health agency that would be great. Aetna doesn't have any up on their website and I spent about 3 hours on the phone with them and they couldn't figure it out either.
Thank you, Lindsay
Posts: 484 | From Burlingame, Ca | Registered: Sep 2005
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
When I needed to arrange local home health care I just got out the phone book and started calling around.
There were a couple pages of options so I chose to call the ones with the big ads first. I ended up choosing a company affiliated with a large hospital network in the area.
After you find a home health company that accepts insurance and provides the type of care that you need call your insurance company directly to verify that they are in network providers.
Can your local PCP help you find and appropriate home health care agency? Usually they are more familiar with the options in your area.
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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posted
I spent 3 hours on the phone with Aetna trying to locate a home health agency. I did IV back in 2006 and had no problems finding an agencies. Seems as though things have changed.
If you know of any agencies please let me know you can also e-mail me at [email protected]
thx
Posts: 484 | From Burlingame, Ca | Registered: Sep 2005
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
Don't give up smiles. I know it's frustrating but you just have to keep calling around until you find someone that can work for you.
You could try calling the major hospital networks in your area. They usually are usually affiliated with a home health care agency. And being a major provider in your area they are more likely to accept your insurance.
Is Aetna going to cover the cost of your IV therapy? If not you may want to consider using a pharmacy like Infuserve.
They can supply your IV antibiotics and supplies. They do not provide nursing care though so you will need family or a friend to help with dressing changes and such.
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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posted
Called my insurance and found where the information is, however no one will approve this under my doctor. Nice huh..looks like I am screwed right now.
Posts: 484 | From Burlingame, Ca | Registered: Sep 2005
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posted
I have Aetna PPO and was not able to find home health care service, beacuse I am not homebound. My PCP has been kind to take care of the dressing change once a week, and blood tests are done in local Qwest lab. You could check if any of local hospitals have outpatient infusion clinic (most of them in my area has) and try to arrange something with them.
Posts: 191 | From va | Registered: Sep 2008
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posted
The problem is that any home health agency will want order from doctor and some of them require local doctor. For lyme patients, that is hard to do, as many of us go to doctors unaffiliated with hospital and not local.
Maybe you could try getting your doc to contact hospitalist at local hospital to give order to use infusion center.
Have you contacted any CA support groups about this?
I ran into this problem too and couldn't get it sorted out. Winging it for now.
Posts: 8430 | From Not available | Registered: Oct 2000
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