Medication management and Medicare

We are always getting questions concerning senior issues. Lately the subject has been concerning medication management and Medicare coverage. For this question, we went to the expert - Vickie Nostrant, Director of Nursing with North Idaho Home Health.

Correct medication management is very important to anyone's health maintenance and safety. Because of that importance, home health agencies are particularly invested in making certain patients are taking the correct medications, in the correct dose, at the correct time and by the correct route. Home health services are usually short term or intermittent so we make certain the patient and or caregiver is knowledgeable of the medications taken and potential side effects to watch for.

To further add importance to this issue, Joint Commission (a national oversight and accrediting organization) has made this a Home Health patient safety goal for 2012.

When being seen by a Home Health Agency, the clinician will provide a number of services related to medication safety:

• All medications (including over the counter medications) will be reviewed. It is important to divulge any medications you are taking even if you believe them unimportant.

• All medications will be compared to the medication list given by the hospital or physician's office. This will allow necessary conversations with your provider to guarantee accuracy.

• Instruction will be given on all medications including high risk medications such as insulin, Coumadin, antibiotics, narcotics, antihypertensives and cardiac medications.

• Review and compare potential drug interactions with your doctor.

• Monitoring for expected actions and any side effects or adverse reactions that might occur.

• Instruction on administration of new or changed medications to include how to administer injections or administer medication via intravenous routes.

So, when being visited by a home health clinician, expect these different interventions and please be forthcoming with questions or concerns. It is all about the patient's good health and safety.

After meeting admission criteria, Medicare will pay for these medication interventions but not for long periods of time. As long as progress is demonstrated in getting the patient and/or caregiver to greater independence in their medication management, Medicare will pay for this service.

For questions regarding home care, contact Home Helpers at (208) 769-9560 or go to www.CoeurdAleneHomeCare.com. Vickie at North Idaho Home Health can be reached at (208) 667-7494.

Listen to Connie Clark at 4 p.m. Saturday on KYMS 89.9 FM when she speaks with Sheila Schumacher with Army One Source.

Connie Clark is a Certified Senior Advisor at Home Helpers/Direct Link. She can be reached at (208) 769-9560 - North Idaho or (509) 999-8440 - Spokane.