An individual is considered to be homebound if the individual has a condition, due to an illness or injury, that restricts the ability of the individual to leave his or her home except with the assistance of another individual or the aid of a supportive device (such as: crutches, a cane, a wheelchair or a walker); or if the individual has a condition such that leaving his or her home is not medically recommended. While an individual does not have to be bedridden to be considered confined to his home, if the individual has a normal inability to leave home, or if leaving home requires a considerable and taxing effort by the individual, or if an individual only leaves the home due to the need to receive health care treatment, then the individual is considered homebound.
What if the Patient is Able to Leave the Home?
If the patient does in fact leave the home, the patient may still be considered homebound if the absences from the home are infrequent or for periods of relatively short duration, or are attributable to the need to receive medical treatment. Occasional absences from the home for non-medical purposes, e.g., an occasional trip to barber, a walk around the block or a drive, would not disqualify the patient from being in homebound status.