Home Health Agency - A home health agency is an organization that is primarily engaged in providing skilled nursing services and other therapeutic services. Services are provided on an intermittent basis. Each visit must be less than four hours in duration. Any visit made to or procedures performed on a patient at their home must only be made upon a physician’s written order. Home health providers shall provide at least the following services, including, but not limited to, skilled nursing care, personal care, physical therapy, speech therapy, medical social services, and medical supplies services.

Home Health Care - Home health care is that component of a continuum of comprehensive health care whereby intermittent health services are provided to individuals and families in their places of residence for the purpose of promoting, maintaining or restoring health, or of maximizing the level of independence, while minimizing the effects of disability and illness, including terminal illness. Services appropriate to the needs of the individual patient and family are planned, coordinated, and made available by providers organized for the delivery of home health care through the use of employed staff, contractual arrangements, or a combination of employed staff and contractual arrangements. There is no licensure requirement for home health agencies in Alabama.

Home Health Services - Home health services are made available based upon patient care needs as determined by an objective patient assessment administered by a multidisciplinary team or a single health professional. Centralized professional coordination and case management are included. These services are provided under a plan of treatment certified by a physician that may include, but are not limited to, appropriate service components, such as medical, nursing, social work, respiratory therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, nutrition, homemaker home health aide service, and provision of medical equipment and supplies.

Reference

Ala. Admin. Code 410-2-4-.07