Do I have the right to choose my medicare service provider?
YES! you have the right to choose for yourself. We often take calls from patients or family members concerned that their Doctor does not want to refer them to Caring Professional Services for various reasons, such as “We only refer to Agencies we work with”. The fact is that Medicare gives you the right to choose it is not doctors right to do so. If you are in an HMO you still have aright to chose from providers within their networks. Regardless you have the right and do not have to accept an Agency recommend by your doctor.
The following is a quote from the US Government Official Booklet for Medicare Home Health Care Benefits for people with Original Medicare:
Your right to choose a Home Health Agency “If your doctor decides you need home health care, you may choose an agency from the participating Medicare-certified home health agencies that serve your area. Home health agencies are certified to make sure they meet certain Federal health and safety requirements. Your choice should be honored by your doctor, hospital discharge planner, or other referring agency. You have a say in which agency you use, but your choices may be limited by agency availability, or by your insurance coverage. (Medicare Advantage Plans or other Medicare health plans may require that you get home health services from agencies they contract with.”
You can download a complete copy of the Medicare booklet directly from the US Government – CMS MEDICARE (HERE)
