Simi Valley Hospital Home Health Program Receives Certification
Monday, March 19, 2012Simi Valley Hospital's home health program was awarded a three-year certification from the California Department of Public Health.
The certification for the program – the Adventist Health/Home Care Services of Simi Valley Hospital – enables the hospital to receive reimbursement from Medicare and Medi-Cal for home health services, essential to the program’s ability to function. But the significance extends beyond the government-sponsored health programs, said Eileen Tondreau, home care services director.
"Every other insurance company requires us to be Medicare-certified, too," she said, "so without that certification, we're out of business."
The program received a thorough, six-day vetting earlier this month by a registered nurse trained by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), who reviewed home health patient charts for compliance with Medicare rules and regulations and accompanied home health employees on six in-home visits with patients.
Judy Temes
