Home Based Primary Care
What is Home Based Primary Care?
Home Based Primary Care is health care services provided to Veterans in their home. The program is for Veterans who need team based in-home support for ongoing diseases and illnesses that affect their health and daily activities.
Veterans usually have difficulty making and keeping clinic visits because of the severity of their illness and are often homebound, but that is not required.
This program is also for Veterans who are isolated, or their caregiver is experiencing burden. Home Based Primary Care can be used in combination with other Home and Community Based Services.
Video about Home Based Primary Care
Watch the video to hear what Home Based Primary Care providers, the Veterans they care for, and their families have to say about this program.
Am I eligible for Home Based Primary Care?
Since Home Based Primary Care is part of the VHA Standard Medical Benefits Package, all enrolled Veterans are eligible IF they meet the clinical need for the service and it is available.
A copay for Home Based Primary Care may be charged based on your VA service-connected disability status and financial information. You may have a basic copay each time a VA staff team member comes to your home for a medical visit (the same as if you went to a VA clinic).
Contact your VA social worker/case manager to complete the Application for Extended Care Benefits (VA Form 10-10EC) to learn the amount of your copay.
What services can I get?
HBPC provides a team of experienced health care professionals. Together they review the Veteran’s health care needs and offer treatments and support for the Veteran and his/her caregivers. Services available in HBPC include:
- Primary care visits at home by a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician's assistant
- Care management through a nurse practitioner, physician's assistant, or nurse
- Social Work
- Rehabilitation
- Psychology
- Nutrition
- Pharmacy
How do I decide if Home Based Primary Care is right for me?
You can use a Veteran Decision Aid for Care at Home or in the Community to help you figure out what home care services or long term care services may best meet your needs now or in the future.
There's also a Caregiver Self-Assessment. It can help your caregiver identify their own needs and decide how much support they can offer to you. Having this information from your caregiver, along with the involvement of your care team and social worker, will help you reach short-term and long-term care decisions.
Ask your social worker for these resources or download copies from the Making Decisions page at www.va.gov/Geriatrics.
Your VA physician or social worker can tell you if a Home Based Primary Care program is available in your area.