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Does Medicare Cover Home Health Care for Diabetes Management?
Date Updated: December 13, 2024
Written by:
Lauren Thomas is a seasoned writer that specializes in long-term care, with a special focus on dementia-related topics. She holds a degree in counseling and uses her knowledge and experience to create insightful content that gives seniors and families the information they need to make important care decisions.
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Dr. Brindusa Vanta is a health care professional, researcher, and an experienced medical writer (2000+ articles published online and several medical ebooks). She received her MD degree from “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine, Romania, and her HD diploma from OCHM – Toronto, Canada.
Medicare covers home health care for diabetes management for those who qualify. This insurance encompasses certain treatments an individual receives at home, diabetes management supplies and durable medical equipment. To obtain services and equipment, the beneficiary must have Part B Medicare and meet certain criteria.
Who Qualifies for Home Health Care?
Medicare provides coverage for home health care under Parts A and B, based on eligibility criteria, for housebound individuals who need short-term or intermittent skilled nursing services. For an individual to qualify for this type of care, a Medicare-certified doctor must supervise the person's treatment protocol, and that doctor must order delivery of skilled nursing at home. Additionally, the individual must obtain treatment through a Medicare-certified home health care agency. The doctor must deem these services medically necessary, and the person must not need them long-term.
Examples of home health care include:
- Wound care
- Patient and caregiver education
- Medication administration
- Injections
- Disease monitoring
- Rehabilitative therapies
- Medical social services
Does Home Health Care Include Diabetes Management?
Medicare provides robust coverage for those with diabetes, helping housebound individuals get the treatment and information they need at home. Under Part B coverage, beneficiaries receive services that include medical nutrition and rehabilitative care as well as health education. Additionally, they may qualify for virtual access to the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program and diabetes self-management training via telehealth. Medicare provides 100% coverage for these treatment options to those who are eligible.
Home health care for diabetes management includes products and equipment related to managing diabetes. Beneficiaries pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after meeting their annual Part B deductible, which comes in at $240 in 2024. Some equipment and supplies individuals may receive include:
- Home blood sugar monitors
- Blood sugar test strips
- Lancets and lancet devices
- Insulin pumps
- Hemoglobin A1C tests
- Therapeutic shoes or inserts
- Foot exams and treatment for diabetes-related nerve damage