Half of being a business owner is meeting your client’s specific needs. You wouldn’t advertise yourself as a taco joint and only serve hamburgers, would you? The same goes for home care agencies. 

Bear with me here. 

In most cases Medicare is the only form of healthcare that elderly populations have. So if you have a home care agency, you can’t reach all your potential clients without being a Medicare provider. 

Being a home care agency and a Medicare Provider are synonymous. But time and time again nurse entrepreneurs with home care agencies shy away from Medicare and only offer privatized care. While this allows them to reach certain populations, patients that rely on Medicare are left out of the picture.

The bottom line, if you have a home care agency, you have a responsibility to be a Medicare provider, and guess what? It’s easier than you think. 

This week on the NursePreneur’s podcast I chatted with Fumi Ogunsemore, founder of Valley of Joy Home Care. As a Medicare provider herself, Fumi can serve a wide range of elderly clients regardless of their financial situation. Fumi and other home care agencies have taken the plunge to provide Medicare through their agencies and you can too! 

Here’s a hassle-free three step guide to Medicare enrollment: 

• Step 1: First thing is first, it’s time to get an NPI. An NPI, also known as a National Provider Identifier, is a 10 digit number that identifies your home care agency as a healthcare entity. This number is shared with providers, health plans, employers, etc. and is used primarily for billing. NPIs are administered through the National Plan & Provider Enumeration System (NPPES). 

• Step 2: Once you have your NPI, it is time to fill out your Medicare enrollment application. Using an online Medicare enrollment system, you can fill out your application step by step and receive guidance along the way to ensure that information is completed correctly.

• Step 3: After your application has been completed you should work with the Medicare Administrative Contractor in your region to fulfill additional requests while your application is processing. Your Medicare Administrative Contractor can also keep you updated on your enrollment status. 

The time to act is now! Get in touch with us today to learn how to start your own home care agency! For more tips and tricks for nurse entrepreneurs, subscribe to our YouTube channel today.