National Home and Hospice Care Survey, 2000

The National Home and Hospice Care Survey (NHHCS) for 2000
examines home health agencies and hospices and their current patients
and discharges. These surveys were designed to provide information for
those who establish standards for, plan, provide, and assess long-term
care services, both in the home and in inpatient settings. Data on
agency characteristics were obtained through personal interviews with
the agency administrators and include the number of home health and
hospice patients served in the last 12 months, type of facility
ownership (i.e., profit, nonprofit, government, other), Medicare and
Medicaid certification, number and type of staff, and the hours they
worked. Data on a sample of patients currently receiving home health
and hospice care as well as a sample of discharges were obtained by
interviewing staff persons most familiar with the care provided to
these patients. Respondents were requested to refer to medical or
other records whenever necessary. No patient was interviewed
directly. Information for patients currently receiving services and
discharged patients includes services provided and provider type, type
of residence, referral source, medical diagnosis, type of care (home
health or hospice), type of aids used (eyeglasses, dentures, walker,
cane, oxygen, hospital bed, etc.), daily living activities that
required assistance, and billing charges and expected payment
source(s). The discharge diagnosis for discharged patients was also
recorded. Demographic variables for both types of patients include
sex, age, race, Hispanic origin, and marital status.