National Home Health Care Group is a home health agency, not a equipment supplier

National Home Health Care Group (NHHCG) is a home health care agency that sends nurses, aides, and therapists to patients' homes. It is not a medical equipment company. If you arrived here looking for wheelchairs, oxygen tanks, hospital beds, or other physical equipment, you need a durable medical equipment (DME) supplier instead — those are different businesses entirely.

NHHCG provides skilled nursing visits, personal care information, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy in your home. A nurse might come to check your blood pressure and manage medications after surgery. An aide might help with bathing and dressing. A therapist might work with you to regain strength after an injury. The company bills Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance for these visits.

Home health agencies and equipment suppliers often work together — your nurse might recommend that you rent a hospital bed, and then you contact a DME company to arrange it — but they are separate organizations with different roles.

Key Takeaways

  • National Home Health Care Group sends health care workers to your home for nursing care, personal information, and therapy — not equipment.
  • A doctor's order is required before the agency can start visits, and Medicare or your insurance must cover the service for it to be free or low-cost.
  • The agency serves specific geographic areas; you can contact them to learn whether your address is in their service region.
  • If you need medical equipment like a wheelchair or oxygen, you will contact a separate DME supplier, though your home health nurse can recommend one.

How home health visits work

Home health care begins with a doctor's order. Your physician must write an order stating that you need skilled nursing or therapy at home. This typically happens after a hospital stay, surgery, injury, or when a chronic condition requires regular monitoring that cannot wait for office visits.

Once you have an order, you contact a home health agency like NHHCG and request an intake assessment. A nurse visits your home, reviews your medical history, checks your current condition, and creates a care plan. The plan lists what services you need, how often the worker should visit, and what the goals are — for example, "patient will safely take medications without information" or "patient will walk 50 feet with a walker."

Visits then begin on a schedule set by your doctor and the care plan. A nurse might visit twice a week, an aide three times a week, or a therapist once weekly — it depends on your needs. Each visit is documented in your medical record, and the agency sends reports to your doctor and insurance company.

Insurance coverage and costs

Medicare covers home health visits when a doctor orders them and you meet Medicare's criteria: you must be homebound (leaving home requires significant effort or help), you must need skilled care (nursing or therapy, not just personal information), and the care must be medically necessary. Under these conditions, Medicare pays the agency directly, and you typically pay nothing.

Medicaid coverage varies by state. Some states cover home health broadly; others cover it only in specific situations. Your state Medicaid office can tell you whether your situation is covered.

Private insurance plans also vary. Some cover home health the same way Medicare does; others require a copay per visit or cover only certain types of care. Call the customer service number on your insurance card and ask whether home health visits are covered under your plan.

If you do not have insurance or your insurance does not cover home health, NHHCG may offer private-pay services at an hourly rate. Rates differ by location and type of worker. Contact the agency directly for pricing in your area.

How to learn about NHHCG serves your area

National Home Health Care Group operates in specific states and regions. You can learn whether they serve your address by calling their main line or visiting their website to enter your zip code. Many home health agencies have service maps showing their coverage areas.

If NHHCG does not serve your location, ask your doctor or hospital discharge planner for a referral to another agency in your area. Medicare's Care Compare tool also lists home health agencies by zip code so you can see all options available to you.

What to expect during your first visit

The intake nurse will ask detailed questions about your medical history, current medications, allergies, and what you can and cannot do physically. They will take your vital signs, examine any wounds or problem areas, and observe your home for safety issues like loose rugs or poor lighting.

Bring your insurance card, a list of all medications and supplements you take, and any recent hospital discharge papers or doctor's notes. The nurse will explain the care plan, answer your questions, and tell you when the next visit will be and who will be coming.

If you have concerns about a particular worker or the care you are receiving, tell the agency supervisor right away. Home health agencies have quality assurance processes and can reassign workers or adjust the plan if something is not working.

The difference between home health and home care

Home health agencies like NHHCG employ licensed nurses and therapists and focus on medical care and recovery. Home care agencies employ aides and companions and focus on daily living help — cooking, cleaning, shopping, companionship. Some people need both. Your doctor's order covers home health; home care is usually private-pay unless your state Medicaid program covers it.

If your doctor orders home health but you also need help with housekeeping or meal prep, ask the home health nurse whether they can recommend a home care agency. The two can work together in your home.

When home health visits end

Home health is not permanent. The goal is to help you recover or stabilize your condition so you can manage at home independently or with family help. Once you meet the goals in your care plan — for example, you can safely take your medications alone, or you have regained enough strength to walk without a walker — the agency will discharge you.

Your doctor and the agency will discuss discharge with you before it happens. If you feel you still need care, tell your doctor; they can extend the order if medically necessary. If your condition changes after discharge and you need care again, your doctor can write a new order and you can restart services.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a doctor's order to get home health visits?

Yes. Your doctor must write an order stating that you need skilled nursing or therapy at home. This order is required by Medicare, Medicaid, and most insurance plans before any visits can begin. If you do not have a doctor, ask the hospital discharge planner or your local health department for help finding one.

What if I need equipment like a wheelchair or oxygen tank?

Contact a durable medical equipment (DME) supplier separately. Your home health nurse can recommend a DME company, and your doctor can write an order for the equipment. DME suppliers are different businesses from home health agencies, though they often work together on patient care.

Can I choose which worker comes to my home?

You can request a different worker if you are uncomfortable with someone, and the agency will try to reassign. However, the agency cannot always may provide the same person every visit due to scheduling. Tell the supervisor if consistency matters to you, and they will do their best to accommodate.

What happens if I miss a scheduled visit?

Call the agency as soon as you know you will not be home. Missing visits without notice may affect your insurance coverage or your care plan. If you frequently cannot keep appointments, tell your nurse so the schedule can be adjusted to times that work better for you.

Is home health the same as hospice?

No. Home health focuses on recovery or managing a chronic condition. Hospice focuses on comfort care when a terminal illness is expected to end in six months or less. They are different services with different goals, though some agencies offer both. Your doctor will recommend the right service for your situation.