Research Outline

Home Health Agency Records

Goals

To find case studies on how home health care agencies store patient records and disseminate them.

Early Findings

  • The required retention period for home health agencies is five years from the month the cost report is filed with the intermediary, unless local regulations stipulate longer.
  • Patient records should "contain documentation needed to properly identify the patient and verify appropriate care rendered."
  • Furthermore, patients who are transferred must have their records supplied within 2 working days.
  • Patient records must be kept confidential, only accessible by authorized persons.
  • Electronic signatures must be authenticated and secure.
  • Patient records should be destroyed after 10 years.
  • Several platforms offer medical and non-medical options for patient record-keeping for home health agencies. MatrixCare fully manages patient records between carers and clinicians. AxisCare and AlayaCare help manage non-medical care given to home-based patients.
  • AlayaCare offers some case studies on its website, here.