Medical Social Services in Home Health
Illness at home affects more than physical health. It can change daily routines, create stress for families and make following a care plan more difficult.
- Your doctor orders careWe’ll help get the referral
- We check your coverageMedicare typically pays 100%
- Care starts at homeWe schedule your first visit quickly
At Ideal Choice Home Health, medical social workers help patients and families address social and emotional concerns related to illness that may interfere with treatment or recovery. They also help connect families with community resources and coordinate with the rest of the home health care team.
Medical social services are provided when ordered as part of your home health plan of care, alongside qualifying skilled nursing or therapy services.
What Medical Social Services Include
When ordered as part of your home health plan of care, a medical social worker may provide:
- Social and emotional assessment: Identifying concerns related to illness that may affect treatment, recovery or the ability to follow the care plan.
- Support and counseling: Helping patients and families address illness-related social and emotional concerns within the home health plan of care.
- Community resource guidance: Helping patients and families identify and connect with community programs, such as In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) or Meals on Wheels, when appropriate.
- Care-planning support: Addressing social or household circumstances that affect how care is carried out at home.
- Caregiver support: Helping family members and caregivers understand and address concerns related to the patient's care plan.
- Discharge-planning support: Assisting with planning related to the home health plan of care when ordered and appropriate.
- Long-term planning support: Discussing care-related needs and available resources with patients and families as they plan for ongoing support, as it relates to your home health plan of care.
Medical social worker visits are intermittent and follow physician orders and the authorized home health plan of care.
Ideal Choice does not operate IHSS, Meals on Wheels or other community programs and cannot guarantee eligibility or enrollment.
Medical social services are not standalone psychotherapy, legal advice or a separate discharge-planning service.
More Than a Social Work Visit
A medical social worker visit is one part of a coordinated home health care experience.
When you call during office hours, you reach our team directly. Our team knows our patients, answers questions and follows through. You have a care coordinator who serves as a clear point of contact for you and your family.
When social or emotional concerns affect your ability to follow the care plan, our team communicates with your physician and coordinates the appropriate next steps.
Our focus is on keeping your care connected through clear communication and attentive coordination.
For Referring Physicians and Discharge Planners
To help coordinate medical social services as part of home health, please provide:
- The qualifying skilled nursing or therapy need
- Social or emotional concerns related to illness that may affect treatment or recovery
- Medical social services orders, when available
- Relevant caregiver or household circumstances affecting the care plan
- Community-resource needs related to the patient's medical care
Medical social services alone generally do not establish eligibility for Medicare home health. A qualifying skilled nursing or therapy need and other Medicare requirements must also be met. See insurance.
Our intake team can help clarify missing information and coordinate with your office.
Physicians can access our referral form on the physicians page.
Ideal Choice accepts completed physician referral forms and supporting clinical documents by:
- Fax: (747) 877-8441
- Approved secure email: referrals@idealchoicehomehealth.com
Phone (747) 877-8440 is for referral questions and coordination.
Do not send patient information through ordinary email, website forms or chat.
Serving Sherman Oaks and Greater Los Angeles
Ideal Choice Home Health is located at 14852 Ventura Blvd, Suite 207, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403.
We primarily serve Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties, as well as parts of Ventura and Orange counties.
Call to confirm service in your ZIP code. Learn more about home health care in Sherman Oaks.
What does a medical social worker do in home health?
A medical social worker helps patients and families address social and emotional concerns related to illness that may interfere with treatment or recovery. When ordered as part of your home health plan of care, services may include assessment, support, community-resource guidance and care-planning assistance.
Can medical social services alone qualify me for Medicare home health?
Generally no. Under Original Medicare, patients must meet homebound, qualifying skilled nursing or therapy, certification and plan-of-care requirements. Medical social services alone do not establish eligibility. Visit our insurance page for additional information.
Do I need nursing or therapy too?
Generally yes. Original Medicare home health eligibility requires a qualifying skilled nursing or therapy need. Medical social services may be added when ordered as part of the plan of care.
Is this the same as outpatient counseling or psychotherapy?
No. Home health medical social services focus on illness-related social and emotional concerns within your home health plan of care. They are not a substitute for standalone psychotherapy or ongoing outpatient counseling.
Can you help my family find community resources?
Yes. When ordered and appropriate, a medical social worker can help identify and connect you with community programs, such as In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) or Meals on Wheels. Ideal Choice does not operate these programs or determine eligibility.
How soon can care start?
We work to arrange care promptly once we receive the referral and eligibility is confirmed.
Will you communicate with my physician?
Yes. Your medical social worker and care team coordinate relevant concerns with your physician and other clinicians involved in your care.
Is medical social services covered?
We accept Original Medicare and also work with the VA and select Medicare Advantage plans on a case-by-case basis. Contact us to verify coverage. See insurance for details.
How to Get Started
A physician's order is required.
Ask your physician or hospital discharge planner to refer you to Ideal Choice Home Health, or contact us and we'll help coordinate with your physician.
We work to arrange care promptly once we receive the referral and eligibility is confirmed.
Your care coordinator will contact you to arrange the initial home health visit and any ordered medical social services visits.
Call or text (747) 877-8440. Our office is open Monday through Friday, 10 AM to 5 PM. For a medical emergency, call 911. We accept Original Medicare and also work with the VA and select Medicare Advantage plans on a case-by-case basis. Contact us to verify coverage. See insurance.