Leaving the Hospital in Philadelphia: Discharge Rights and Getting Help at Home
Leaving the Hospital in Philadelphia: Discharge Rights and Getting Help at Home
Short answer: When your loved one leaves a Philadelphia hospital, you have the right to a safe discharge plan and the right to appeal if they are being sent home too early. Planning ahead ensures they have the medical equipment and in-home help they need.
- Medicare inpatients receive a notice of their discharge rights and can request a fast appeal if they feel they are leaving too soon.
- Hospital case managers and social workers work with you on equipment, follow-up care and home health before your loved one goes home.
- Skilled home health treats medical conditions, while non-medical home care helps with daily tasks like bathing and dressing.
- You can start a Medicaid Community HealthChoices (CHC) waiver application while your loved one is still in the hospital.
- Family members can sometimes be hired as paid caregivers through Medicaid CHC to help a relative recover at home.
Coming home from a hospital like Penn Medicine, Jefferson Health, or Temple Health requires careful planning. A safe return depends on understanding your rights and arranging the right support before your loved one leaves the building. This guide explains how to manage a hospital discharge in Philadelphia.
Your Medicare discharge rights
When your loved one is admitted as a Medicare inpatient, the hospital must provide the Important Message from Medicare (IM) notice. This document explains their rights as a patient. You should receive this notice within two days of admission. If the hospital stay lasts three or more days, you will receive the notice again. The hospital must give it to you no earlier than two days, and no later than four hours, before discharge.
Sometimes, a hospital may plan to discharge your loved one before they are medically ready. You have the right to request a fast appeal. The hospital cannot make you leave before a decision is reached.
Follow these steps to appeal a discharge:
- Locate the phone number for the BFCC-QIO (Quality Improvement Organization) printed on your Important Message from Medicare notice.
- Call the QIO by midnight of the day of discharge to request a fast appeal. Do this before your loved one leaves the hospital.
- Wait for the QIO to review your case. The hospital cannot force your loved one to leave before the QIO makes a decision.
- Provide any necessary information to the QIO. They typically decide within one day of getting the information.
- Review the Detailed Notice of Discharge, which the hospital must provide to explain the reasons for the discharge.
Discharge planning checklist
A safe return home requires coordination. Hospital staff, such as a case manager or a social worker, will work with the patient and family on a safe discharge plan. They arrange the services your loved one needs after leaving. Use this checklist to guide your conversations with the hospital team.
| Item to Arrange | Who to Ask | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Medication list | Doctor or pharmacist | To know what new prescriptions are needed and what old medications to stop taking. |
| Medical equipment | Case manager | To ensure items like a hospital bed, oxygen, or a wheelchair arrive at the house. |
| Follow-up appointments | Doctor or nurse | To schedule check-ups with specialists and track recovery progress. |
| Home health | Case manager | To arrange skilled nursing or physical therapy covered by Medicare. |
| Non-medical home care | Social worker | To find an agency for help with daily routines like bathing, dressing, and meals. |
Home health vs home care after discharge
Many families confuse home health with non-medical home care. Both services happen at home, but they serve entirely different purposes.
Medicare home health covers part-time or intermittent skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. It also covers medical social services and durable medical equipment. Home health aides are only covered alongside skilled care. To qualify, the patient must be homebound. Medicare pays $0 out of pocket for these covered services.
Non-medical home care is different. A home care agency supplies employees to provide assistance with daily routines. These are non-skilled services. Caregivers help with bathing, dressing, meal preparation, and mobility. They do not provide wound care, injections, or medication administration. A person does not need to be homebound to receive non-medical home care.
| Feature | Medicare Home Health | Non-Medical Home Care |
|---|---|---|
| Type of care | Skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy | Help with daily living (bathing, dressing, meal prep) |
| Who provides it | Licensed nurses and therapists | Direct care workers and home health aides |
| Requirement | Must be homebound and need part-time skilled care | No homebound rule; based on need for daily help |
| Cost | $0 for covered Medicare services | Private pay or Medicaid CHC waiver |
To learn more about these differences, read our guide on home care vs home health.
If your parent needs non-medical help after a hospital stay, contact our home care agency in Philadelphia. Call 215-974-0000 and select the “I am a client” form on our website to get started.
If your parent has or needs Medicaid
Medicaid covers non-medical home care through the Community HealthChoices (CHC) waiver. The CHC waiver covers personal assistance services, home adaptations, non-medical transportation, and home-delivered meals. If your loved one is already a CHC member, their CHC plan service coordinator will arrange or adjust their waiver services for their return home.
New applicants can start the CHC waiver application while they are still in the hospital. The Independent Enrollment Broker (IEB) handles the first steps of the application. The IEB can conduct their first required in-person visit right in the hospital room. This visit helps with the financial Medicaid application and explains the available CHC plans. The IEB will also send a Physician Certification form to your doctor, who should return it within five business days. Find out more about how to apply for PA Medicaid.
The CHC waiver also allows families to hire relatives as paid caregivers. Family members can be paid for providing personal assistance services. However, the waiver will not pay services furnished by the participant’s spouse, legal guardian, representative payee, or power of attorney. Read our guide to learn how to get paid to care for a family member.
First week at home
The first few days after a discharge are often the hardest. Your loved one may be weak, confused, or adjusting to new medications. Keeping them safe is your main priority.
Older adults face a high risk of falling when they return to an unfamiliar or cluttered home environment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends clearing paths around furniture and removing throw rugs. You should also coil or tape cords next to the wall and keep often-used items on lower shelves. Review our fall prevention guide for a complete checklist.
Patients recovering from surgery often need help getting out of bed, managing personal hygiene, and remembering to take their medications. You can arrange post-surgery support to assist with these daily tasks while they regain their strength.
If your loved one had a stroke, they may have sudden weakness, balance issues, or trouble speaking. Non-medical aides provide stroke recovery support to help them move safely around the house and assist with meals. For more local resources, explore our Philadelphia senior resource guide.
Getting care started
Setting up home care quickly reduces stress for the whole family. New Century Home Care has an office in Olney (19120) and serves families throughout Philadelphia. We provide personal care, companionship, and specialized support to help your loved one recover safely at home.
To set up services or ask questions about your options, call 215-974-0000. You can also visit our contact page and submit the “I am a client” form.
Frequently asked questions
Can the hospital force my parent to leave if they aren’t ready?
No. If you think the discharge is too early, you can request a fast appeal by calling the BFCC-QIO listed on your Important Message from Medicare notice. You must call by midnight of the day of discharge. The hospital cannot make you leave before the QIO decides.
Does Medicare pay for 24-hour home care after a hospital stay?
No. Medicare home health covers part-time or intermittent skilled nursing and therapy for homebound patients. It does not cover 24-hour care or non-medical personal care when that is the only care needed.
Can I start a Medicaid application while my parent is in the hospital?
Yes. You can begin the Community HealthChoices (CHC) waiver application before discharge. The Independent Enrollment Broker (IEB) can conduct the first required in-person visit in the hospital to help with the financial application and explain the process.
Can I get paid to care for my parent after they are discharged?
Yes, if your parent qualifies for the Medicaid CHC waiver. Family members can be hired as paid caregivers to provide personal assistance services. However, spouses, legal guardians, representative payees, and powers of attorney cannot be paid.
Non-medical home care in Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware and Chester counties. Medicaid CHC (Keystone First) and private pay. We speak English, Russian and Ukrainian.
Request care