Medicare · Supporting
KanTime and Medicare home health: what patients should know
Last reviewed September 16, 20264 min readBy the Goodsurance editorial team Reviewed by the Goodsurance editorial team
Home health agencies that want to bill Medicare must meet strict documentation and reporting standards set by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). KanTime is one of several electronic health record (EHR) platforms built specifically for home health, hospice, and pediatric agencies. It handles scheduling, clinical documentation at the point of care, and electronic transmission of required assessments to CMS.
What KanTime actually is
When a nurse or therapist visits your home, they may record vital signs, care notes, and your functional status on a tablet running KanTime. From a patient's perspective, the software is mostly invisible. It is the backend system ensuring your clinician's notes reach the right destinations and that Medicare receives an accurate claim for the visit.
If you saw "KanTime" on a form or notification from your home health agency and wondered whether it was part of your Medicare benefit, the short answer is no: it is the agency's internal tool, not a government program.
How Medicare covers home health services
Medicare covers home health services under both Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance). For covered visits, there is generally no coinsurance and no deductible. According to Medicare.gov, four conditions must all be met:
- A doctor or other qualified health care provider must certify that you need home health care and must create or approve a plan of care.
- You must need skilled nursing care on an intermittent basis, or physical therapy, speech-language pathology, or continued occupational therapy.
- You must be homebound, meaning that leaving home requires a considerable and taxing effort.
- Your home health agency must be Medicare-certified.
Medicare does not cover full-time or 24-hour-a-day care, meal delivery, or homemaker services by themselves. For durable medical equipment ordered as part of your home health plan of care, Medicare.gov states that you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the Part B deductible.
The physician certification step matters here because it is the formal link between you, your doctor, and the agency. CMS requires agencies to collect and store that documentation before billing Medicare. Platforms like KanTime exist in large part to handle that paperwork electronically and reliably.
What CMS requires agencies to document
CMS requires every Medicare-certified home health agency to complete a standardized patient assessment called the Outcome and Assessment Information Set, widely abbreviated as OASIS. OASIS captures your functional status, clinical conditions, and care needs at the start of care, at regular checkpoints, and at discharge. CMS uses OASIS data to calculate payments to agencies and to publish quality ratings on Care Compare, the federal tool consumers can use to compare agencies.
KanTime is built to help clinicians complete OASIS assessments in the field and transmit them to CMS on time. An agency that submits incomplete or late OASIS data faces payment adjustments and compliance exposure, which is why specialized software has become standard in the industry. None of that documentation process changes your benefit. Medicare pays for the services you qualify for based on your clinical situation, not based on which software the agency runs behind the scenes.
What you might notice as a patient
A few things may look or feel different if your home health agency uses KanTime rather than paper charts or a different platform.
Visit documentation at the bedside. Your clinician will likely record notes and assessments on a mobile device during or just after your visit, rather than writing them up later from memory. Many patients find this reassuring because it reduces transcription errors and keeps notes closer to real time.
Automated scheduling communications. KanTime includes features for visit reminders and scheduling notifications, so you may receive a text or automated call confirming your next appointment through the agency's KanTime-linked system. These come from the agency, not from Medicare.
Patient portal access. Some agencies configure KanTime to give patients or family caregivers access to a portal where visit summaries and care plan documents are available online. Whether your agency enables this feature depends entirely on how the agency has set up the software. Ask your home health coordinator if you want to know whether portal access is available on your account.
None of these features affect your Medicare benefit or what the program will pay. They are operational choices made by the agency.
Sorting out who to call
If your question is about scheduling, visit notes, or how the agency documents your care, start with the agency directly. If your question is about what Medicare will cover, whether a particular service belongs in your home health plan, or how to appeal a coverage decision, Medicare.gov and 1-800-MEDICARE are the right resources.
For questions about how your Medicare coverage coordinates with home health services, or to understand plan options that might affect your out-of-pocket costs, please contact us to discuss plan options.
Common questions about IRMAA appeals
Quick answers, fast .
Tap any question to expand. Each links to a fuller standalone answer.
Does Medicare pay for hearing aids
Original Medicare does not cover hearing aids or fittings.
Some Medicare Advantage plans may include a hearing benefit, but what they cover varies by plan.
Does Medicare cover ambulance services?
Yes, in limited situations.
Medicare Part B covers emergency ambulance transportation when traveling any other way could endanger your health, taking you to the nearest appropriate hospital or facility. You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the $283 Part B deductible in 2026. Air ambulance is covered only when ground transport cannot reach you or would take too long. Non-emergency ambulance trips, for example to dialysis, are covered only when a doctor provides a written order stating they are medically necessary. Medicare does not cover ambulance rides taken purely for convenience.
Does Medicare cover skilled nursing facility care?
Yes, on a short-term basis.
Medicare Part A covers skilled nursing facility (SNF) care after a qualifying inpatient hospital stay of at least 3 days, when you need daily skilled care like nursing or therapy. In 2026 you pay $0 for days 1 through 20 of each benefit period, $217 per day for days 21 through 100, and all costs after day 100. Coverage is for skilled care while you recover, not for long-term or custodial care (help with daily activities like bathing or dressing), which Medicare does not cover. Long-term nursing home care is generally paid through Medicaid or private funds.
Does Medicare cover physical therapy?
Yes.
Medicare Part B covers outpatient physical therapy that is medically necessary to treat your condition. You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the yearly Part B deductible ($283 in 2026). There is no longer a hard dollar cap on therapy, but once your physical and speech therapy together pass $2,480 in 2026, your therapist must add a note (called a KX modifier) confirming you still need care. Claims above $3,000 may be reviewed for medical necessity. Part A covers physical therapy you receive as a hospital inpatient or in a skilled nursing facility. A doctor or therapist must set up and regularly review your plan of care.
Does Medicare cover mental health services?
Yes.
Medicare covers mental health care across its parts in 2026. Part B covers outpatient services like therapy, counseling, and visits with psychiatrists, psychologists, and clinical social workers, and since 2024 it also covers marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors. You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the $283 deductible, and one depression screening each year is free. Part A covers inpatient mental health care, with a lifetime limit of 190 days in a freestanding psychiatric hospital. Part D covers most mental health medications. Many of these services are also available by telehealth, and Medicare Advantage plans cover at least the same benefits.
Does Medicare cover chiropractic care?
Partly.
Medicare Part B covers one specific chiropractic service: manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation (when one or more bones of the spine are out of position) that a doctor confirms is medically necessary. You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the $283 Part B deductible in 2026. Medicare does not cover other services a chiropractor might offer, such as X-rays, massage therapy, acupuncture, or routine wellness visits, so you would pay the full cost for those. Some Medicare Advantage plans include extra chiropractic or wellness benefits beyond this.
Does Medicare cover home health care?
Yes, when you qualify.
Medicare Parts A and B cover home health care if a doctor certifies that you are homebound (leaving home takes a major effort) and need part-time skilled care, such as skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy. A Medicare-certified home health agency must provide the care under a plan your doctor reviews. You pay $0 for covered home health visits in 2026, and 20% for any durable medical equipment. Medicare does not cover 24-hour home care, meal delivery, or homemaker services like cleaning when that is the only care you need.
Does Medicare cover vision care?
Mostly no for routine care.
In 2026, Original Medicare does not cover routine eye exams for glasses or contact lenses, and it does not pay for the glasses or contacts themselves. It does cover some medical eye care: yearly glaucoma screenings for people at high risk, diabetic retinopathy exams, treatment for eye diseases, and cataract surgery (including one pair of standard glasses or contacts afterward). For those covered services you pay 20% after the $283 Part B deductible. Many Medicare Advantage plans add a routine vision benefit covering eye exams and an allowance for glasses.
Does Medicare cover hearing aids?
Original Medicare does not cover hearing aids or the exams used to fit them.
Some Medicare Advantage plans include a hearing benefit, but coverage varies by plan.
Does Medicare cover diabetes supplies and testing?
Yes.
In 2026 Medicare covers most diabetes care across two parts. Part B (outpatient care and equipment) covers blood sugar monitors, test strips, lancets, and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) as durable medical equipment, plus diabetes screenings and a self-management training program. You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the $283 Part B deductible. Part D (drug coverage) covers insulin and related supplies like syringes, and in 2026 your insulin is capped at $35 for a month's supply. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, it covers at least the same diabetes benefits, sometimes with added extras.
Does Medicare cover durable medical equipment?
Yes.
Medicare Part B covers durable medical equipment (DME): reusable medical gear your doctor prescribes for use at home, such as wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds, oxygen equipment, CPAP machines, and blood sugar monitors. You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the $283 Part B deductible in 2026, and Medicare pays the other 80%. To be covered, the item must be ordered by a Medicare-enrolled doctor and supplied by a Medicare-enrolled supplier, and some items are rented rather than bought. Equipment meant mainly for use outside the home, or only for comfort or convenience, is not covered.
Which is better, Medigap or Medicare Advantage?
Neither is better for everyone; they suit different needs.
Medigap (also called Medicare Supplement, a private policy that pairs with Original Medicare) lets you see any doctor nationwide who accepts Medicare with no network and very predictable out-of-pocket costs, but you pay a monthly Medigap premium and add a separate Part D drug plan. Medicare Advantage (Part C, your Medicare benefits through a private plan) often has a lower or $0 plan premium, bundles drug coverage and extras like dental and vision, and caps your yearly out-of-pocket costs, but uses provider networks and may require prior approval. People who travel, want maximum doctor freedom, and prefer steady costs often lean Medigap; people who want low premiums, extras, and a network they are comfortable with often lean Medicare Advantage. With both, you still pay the Part B premium ($202.90 per month in 2026). To find out which fits your situation, reach out to a licensed Goodsurance advisor at 1-888-301-8091 (TTY 711), Mon to Fri 8 am to 5 pm PT.