As a state benefit recipient, the first step to determining eligibility for the PCS program is to contact the Nevada Medicaid office at 1-800-525-2395. Please follow the prompts for Personal Care Services. You will be transferred to an agent that will ask you a series of questions regarding your personal status in order to determine eligibility for the program. If eligible, the agent will schedule an assessment which will be performed by a Physical or Occupational Therapist at your residence. After the assessment, you will be given the opportunity to choose a provider agency from a list of Medicaid certified providers.
Home Health Care is medical care provided at home to treat an acute medical condition afflicting the patient. As a Home Health patient, your care is overseen by a Nurse under the direction of a physician. Depending on your medical condition, your care may be provided by a nurse, a physical therapist, occupational therapist, or a combination of all three. Home Health care is provided short term, and is rarely continued beyond 60 days. Personal Care Services, often referred to as “Custodial Care” by some insurance policies, are non-medical services provided at the home. These services are provided long term and are aimed at assisting the patient with activities of daily living. Activities may vary from light housekeeping and meal preparation, to more personal tasks such as help with bathing and grooming.
Many patients enjoy the option to receive care in the comfort of their own home vs a facility. Home health care is also much cheaper than that of a facility. Even with insurance, copays are usually lower. There has also been an increased shift in the health care industry from institutionalized care to home health care. The push has been driven mostly by the lower cost of home care compared to that of a facility. Not all patients are eligible for Home Health Care, however. Depending on a patient’s condition, a facility may be the best place to recover from an acute condition.
Home Health Services: We accept Medicare, Medicaid, and most major insurance
companies, including worker’s compensation policies. Our staff can quickly
confirm coverage and obtain pre-authorization from your insurance. We will let
you know ahead of time of any deductibles, co-pays, or out-of-pocket expenses
before the start of services. We welcome private pay patients, but keep in mind
a deposit might be collected before services can begin. The nurse conducting the
initial assessment will disclose the costs associated with the anticipated level
of care based on your condition and the number of suggested visits.
Personal Care Services: American Home Companion, Inc. is a certified provider
for Nevada Medicaid and serves patients eligible for a wide variety of services
under the program. We work closely with the Nevada Division of Aging Services
and accept most private insurance long term policies and worker compensation
policies. We are contracted with Employers Worker Compensation Insurance as an
exclusive provider. We offer the lowest hourly rates in Northern Nevada to our
private pay patients. Please feel free to contact our office should you have
further questions regarding coverage.
Supportive Living Arrangements: At this time, American Home Companion, Inc. is
only accepting patients referred to us by the Sierra Regional and Rural Regional
Centers of Norther Nevada.
No. Non-medical care such as Personal Care Services is not covered under Medicare. In most states however, Medicaid offers Personal Care Services programs to the disabled, elderly, or individuals of low-income needing assistance in caring for themselves. Also, most private insurance long term policies offer an option for Personal Care Services or custodial care in the home.
Yes. Our agency provides 24 hour care but only under our Personal Care Services (PCS) program. Keep in mind Medicaid does not authorize 24 hour services for care at the home, and neither most private insurance companies, so the patient may be entirely responsible for the cost. Home Health Care is never provided on a 24 hour, round the clock basis. Patients with acute conditions requiring continuous care and monitoring are rarely admitted to a home health care agency.
For Personal Care Services (PCS), American Home Companion, Inc. only provides services on a scheduled basis with a minimum of one hour per shift. Clients should not expect services for same day procurement. An assessment must be performed and scheduled ahead of time before services can begin.