| Need | Cat. | Medicare FFS | Medicare Advantage | Medicaid | Commercial | PA TAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
℞ Oral medications owner: Pharmacy / Pharm Tech | Medications | Tiered formulary Part D plan-specific tiering; PA + step therapy common | Tiered formulary MAPD plan tiering; PA + step therapy | Covered (PA req) State preferred drug list; PA on non-preferred | Tiered formulary Plan formulary; PBM rules | 1–24h (CoverMyMeds real-time decision in 40% of cases) |
✦ Specialty pharmacy (biologics, oral oncology) owner: Pharmacy / Case Manager | Medications | Tiered formulary Part D specialty tier (Tier 5/6); high coinsurance | Tiered formulary MAPD specialty tier + PA | Covered (PA req) Step + PA + quantity limits | Covered (PA req) Carve-out to Accredo, CVS Specialty, Optum Specialty | 24–72h (manufacturer hub + payer PA serial) |
⚕ IV infusion at home (OPAT, biologics) owner: Pharmacy / Case Manager / MD | Medications | Covered (PA req) Part B for drugs + DME pump; Part D for some self-administered | Covered (PA req) PA + benefit varies | Covered (PA req) State PA; specialty pharmacy carve-out | Covered (PA req) Specialty pharmacy carve-out + PA | 24–72h |
◌ Total parenteral nutrition owner: Pharmacy / Nutrition / Case Manager | Medications | Covered (PA req) Part B + LCD criteria (90+ days gut failure documented) | Covered (PA req) PA + necessity review | Covered (PA req) State PA | Covered (PA req) Specialty pharmacy + PA | 3–7 days (LCD criteria documentation) |
◔ Enteral feeding (G-tube / PEG / NJ) owner: Nutrition / Case Manager | Durable medical equipment | Covered (PA req) Part B enteral nutrition + pump + supplies (LCD L33783) | Covered (PA req) PA + LCD-equivalent | Covered (PA req) State PA | Covered (PA req) PA + tier | 48–96h |
○ Home oxygen owner: Case Manager / RN | Durable medical equipment | Covered (PA req) Part B DMEPOS; 36-mo capped rental; LCD L33797 | Covered (PA req) PA + plan-specific vendors | Covered (PA req) State PA + LCD-equivalent | Covered (PA req) PA + in-network vendor | 8–48h (vendor + payer concurrent) |
≋ CPAP / BiPAP owner: Pulmonology / Case Manager | Durable medical equipment | Covered (PA req) Part B; 90-day compliance requirement (4h/night ≥ 70%) | Covered (PA req) PA + adherence | Covered (PA req) State PA | Covered (PA req) PA + adherence | 48–96h |
≡ Nebulizer + respiratory meds owner: RN / Case Manager | Durable medical equipment | Covered Part B DMEPOS + meds | Covered (PA req) PA | Covered State coverage | Covered (PA req) PA + tier | 24–48h |
♿ Mobility DME (walker, wheelchair, commode) owner: OT / PT / Case Manager | Durable medical equipment | Covered (PA req) Part B DMEPOS; HCPCS-coded; 20% coinsurance | Covered (PA req) PA + in-network DME | Covered (PA req) State PA | Covered (PA req) PA + tier | 24–48h (manual walker often same-day) |
≣ Hospital bed at home owner: Case Manager / OT | Durable medical equipment | Covered (PA req) Part B DMEPOS LCD; necessity documented | Covered (PA req) PA | Covered (PA req) State PA | Covered (PA req) PA + tier | 48–72h |
⌂ Home safety modifications owner: OT / Social Worker | Social determinants | Not covered Not Medicare benefit | Covered SDOH benefit in some MA plans (Humana, Aetna) | Covered (PA req) Some HCBS waivers fund environmental mods | Not covered Charity / private pay | 1–3 weeks (charity intake) |
✚ Wound care supplies + skilled visits owner: Wound RN / Case Manager | Skilled services | Covered HH benefit + DMEPOS supplies under Part B | Covered (PA req) PA | Covered (PA req) State PA | Covered (PA req) PA + tier | 24–48h |
◓ Negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT VAC) owner: Wound RN / Case Manager | Durable medical equipment | Covered (PA req) Part B + LCD; medical necessity | Covered (PA req) PA + necessity | Covered (PA req) State PA | Covered (PA req) PA + tier | 24–72h |
◊ Ostomy supplies + WOCN follow-up owner: WOCN / RN / Case Manager | Durable medical equipment | Covered Part B DMEPOS; quantity limits per LCD | Covered (PA req) PA | Covered State coverage with limits | Covered (PA req) PA + tier | 24–72h |
◐ Urinary supplies (catheter, leg bag) owner: RN / Case Manager | Durable medical equipment | Covered Part B; monthly quantities per LCD | Covered (PA req) PA | Covered State coverage | Covered (PA req) PA | 24–72h |
◇ Tracheostomy supplies + RT follow-up owner: RT / Case Manager | Durable medical equipment | Covered Part B DMEPOS | Covered (PA req) PA | Covered State coverage | Covered (PA req) PA + tier | 48–72h |
⊙ Diabetes supplies (CGM, strips, pens, lancets) owner: Pharmacy / CDE / Case Manager | Durable medical equipment | Covered (PA req) Part B CGM (qualifying criteria); Part D for strips/needles | Covered (PA req) PA + tier | Covered State coverage with PA on CGM | Covered (PA req) PA + tier | 24–72h |
♡ Cardiac monitoring (event monitor, ILR, CardioMEMS) owner: Cardiology / Case Manager | Durable medical equipment | Covered (PA req) Part B + LCD criteria | Covered (PA req) PA + necessity | Covered (PA req) State PA | Covered (PA req) PA + tier | 48–96h |
≈ Outpatient dialysis (HD, PD, home) owner: Nephrology / Case Manager | Skilled services | Covered Part B ESRD benefit (immediate eligibility) | Covered (PA req) PA + in-network | Covered (PA req) State PA | Covered (PA req) PA + 30-mo coordination then Medicare | 24–72h (chair-limited) |
✻ Oncology supportive (anti-emetics, GCSF, growth factors) owner: Oncology / Pharmacy / Case Manager | Medications | Covered (PA req) Part B for infused; Part D oral | Covered (PA req) PA | Covered (PA req) State PA | Covered (PA req) Specialty pharmacy + PA | 24–72h |
✸ Palliative meds + symptom kit owner: Hospice MD / Hospice RN / Pharmacy | Medications | Covered Hospice benefit covers meds | Covered Carved back to Medicare hospice | Covered Hospice benefit | Covered Most plans cover hospice | Same day (hospice benefit) |
✚ MAT (buprenorphine, methadone, naltrexone) owner: Addiction Med / Social Worker / Pharmacy | Medications | Covered Part D + Part B for office-based | Covered (PA req) PA | Covered Federal mandate covers MOUD | Covered MHPAEA parity | Same day to 72h |
✤ Mental health follow-up owner: Social Worker / Psychiatry / Case Manager | Skilled services | Covered Part B; MHPAEA parity | Covered (PA req) PA + network | Covered Behavioral health carve-out per state | Covered MHPAEA parity | 3–7 days (slot-limited) |
✿ Discharge vaccinations (flu, RSV, COVID, pneumo) owner: RN / Pharmacy | Medications | Covered Part B + Part D (varies by vaccine) | Covered Plan covered | Covered State VFC program | Covered ACA preventive | Same day |
✎ Disease + medication education owner: RN / Pharmacy / AI Agent | Education & teaching | Covered Bundled into DRG | Covered Bundled | Covered Bundled | Covered Bundled | Same day |
→ Transport home / to next setting owner: Case Manager | Skilled services | Patient pay NEMT not routinely covered | Covered (PA req) Supplemental NEMT benefit (rides/year) | Covered (PA req) NEMT broker (state) | Patient pay Generally patient-pay | 24h (≥48h advance ideal) |
✿ Food + nutrition owner: Dietitian / Social Worker | Social determinants | Not covered Not standard Medicare | Covered Many MA plans cover post-DC meals (14d) as SDOH benefit | Covered (PA req) Some HCBS waivers | Not covered Charity-funded | 2–5 days |
⌂ Housing + SDOH supports owner: Social Worker / Community Health Worker | Social determinants | Not covered Not Medicare scope | Covered (PA req) Some MA plans fund SDOH partnerships | Covered (PA req) 1115 waivers; in-lieu-of services in select states | Not covered Charity | Days to weeks (community capacity) |
✛ Skilled home health (RN / PT / OT visits) owner: Case Manager / RN | Skilled services | Covered Part A/B HH benefit; homebound + skilled need (42 CFR §409.42-43); $0 copay; CA Review Choice Demonstration applies | Covered (PA req) PA + visit management via naviHealth/UM | Covered (PA req) State PA; skilled need documented | Covered (PA req) PA + visit limits | 24–72h (start-of-care) |
➶ Outpatient PT / OT owner: PT / OT / Case Manager | Skilled services | Tiered formulary Part B therapy; 20% coinsurance; KX modifier required above $2,410 threshold (2025) | Covered (PA req) PA + visit caps | Covered (PA req) State PA; EPSDT for under-21 | Covered (PA req) PA + visit limits + copay | 3–7 days (scheduling-limited) |
♥ Cardiac rehabilitation owner: Cardiology / Case Manager | Skilled services | Covered (PA req) Part B; NCD 20.10 / 20.10.1; up to 36 sessions over 36 weeks; qualifying diagnosis required | Covered (PA req) PA + in-network CR site | Covered (PA req) State PA; coverage varies | Covered (PA req) PA + copay per session | 1–2 weeks (program slot) |
⊛ Pulmonary rehabilitation owner: Pulmonology / Case Manager | Skilled services | Covered (PA req) Part B; NCD 240.8; moderate-to-very-severe COPD (GOLD II–IV); expanded to post-COVID; ≤ 36 sessions | Covered (PA req) PA + network | Covered (PA req) State PA | Covered (PA req) PA + copay | 1–2 weeks |
⌁ Remote patient monitoring (RPM) owner: RN / Case Manager / MD | Skilled services | Covered Part B RPM (CPT 99453/99454/99457/99458); ≥ 16 days of data per 30 days required | Covered (PA req) PA + program | Tiered formulary State-specific; coverage expanding | Covered (PA req) Varies by plan | Same week (enrollment) |
◈ Behavioral health IOP (intensive outpatient) owner: Social Worker / Psychiatry | Behavioral health | Covered (PA req) Medicare IOP benefit since CY2024 final rule (~9–19 hrs/wk); physician certification | Covered (PA req) Carve-out vendor UM | Covered County BH / DMC-ODS for SUD; MHPAEA parity | Covered (PA req) Carve-out (Carelon / Magellan / Optum) UM | 3–7 days (slot + auth) |
◆ Behavioral health PHP (partial hospitalization) owner: Psychiatry / Social Worker | Behavioral health | Covered (PA req) Part B PHP; ≥ 20 hrs/wk; 42 CFR §410.43; physician certification required | Covered (PA req) Carve-out UM | Covered County BH; MHPAEA parity | Covered (PA req) Carve-out UM | 2–5 days |
❂ Caregiver training owner: RN / PT / OT / Case Manager | Caregiver support | Covered Caregiver Training Services reimbursable since CY2024 (CPT 96202/96203, 97550-97552) | Covered (PA req) PA + benefit varies | Covered (PA req) HCBS waiver / EPSDT | Tiered formulary Often bundled; standalone varies | Same admission (inpatient teaching) |
☾ Caregiver respite owner: Social Worker / Case Manager | Caregiver support | Covered (PA req) Hospice respite benefit — up to 5 consecutive inpatient days; otherwise not a standard Medicare benefit | Covered Some MA supplemental respite benefit | Covered (PA req) HCBS waiver respite | Not covered Private pay / charity / AAA | Days to weeks (program capacity) |
§ Legal aid (medical-legal partnership) owner: Social Worker | Social determinants | Not covered Not a medical benefit | Covered (PA req) Some MA plans fund MLP partnerships as SDOH | Covered (PA req) Some 1115 community-support / in-lieu-of services | Not covered Pro bono / charity | Days to weeks (intake capacity) |
⚑ Immigration support owner: Social Worker / Community Health Worker | Social determinants | Not covered Not a medical benefit | Not covered Community partner referral | Covered (PA req) CA full-scope Medi-Cal regardless of status (2024 expansion) covers care; legal navigation via partners | Not covered Charity / community | Days to weeks |
⚡ Utility assistance owner: Social Worker | Social determinants | Not covered Not a medical benefit | Covered (PA req) Some MA SDOH benefit | Covered (PA req) Some HCBS / community supports | Not covered LIHEAP / utility programs | Days (shut-off hold) to weeks (enrollment) |
✪ Disability benefits navigation owner: Social Worker / Community Health Worker | Social determinants | Not covered Not a medical benefit | Covered (PA req) Some MA care-navigation | Covered (PA req) IHSS via county; Medi-Cal linked | Not covered SOAR / community navigators | Weeks to months (SSA timeline) |
✺ Peer support owner: Social Worker / Peer Specialist | Behavioral health | Tiered formulary Limited; some peer services via BH benefit | Covered (PA req) Plan-specific | Covered CA Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist benefit (2022); many states cover | Tiered formulary Varies; MHPAEA parity | Days (connection) |