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Home Health & Hospice Week

Industry Note:

Don't Substitute Therapy Asst. For Home Health Aides

Published on Wed Sep 21, 2011

Don't be so quick to substitute a therapist assistant for a home health aide when your scheduling calls for it. CMS "has had a longstanding policy that states registered nurses and licensed practical (vocational) nurses are permitted to perform duties of a home health aide without having to meet aide training and/or testing requirements," the National Association for Home Care & Hospice says in its member newsletter. But now CMS has told NAHC that the same doesn't go for physical and occupational therapists and therapy assistants. "Since a licensed therapist or therapy assistant is not a 'nursing personnel,' therapy personnel must [meet] all of the qualifications for a home health aide -- training and/or competency," CMS has told NAHC. Also, "supervision for aide (every 2 weeks) would apply assuming the person meets the qualifications."
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