What is the homebound requirement for Medicare home health coverage?

• A. Leaving home is easy and does not require assistance.
• B. The patient must be considered homebound; leaving home is difficult and typically requires assistance or special equipment.
• C. Home health services do not consider homebound status.
• D. The patient may be homebound or not; homebound status is irrelevant.

Answer: (B)

Medicare home health coverage is for people who are homebound. Being homebound means leaving the home is difficult and typically requires assistance from another person or the use of special equipment or transportation. The person may leave the home occasionally for medical appointments or essential visits, but overall the homebound status is what makes home health services eligible. That’s why this option is the best: it captures the requirement that leaving home is challenging and usually requires help or special tools. Choices that say leaving home is easy, that homebound status isn’t considered, or that it doesn’t matter would not meet Medicare’s eligibility rule.