What the purpose of the Personal Home Care Registry?

The purpose is to create a vetting process of home care providers for the government payers to reimburse care providers of good standing, and thereby protect vulnerable persons of the public who may need home care services.  Ageing and Disability Services (ADS) manages this personal home care registry.

Who are the government payers?

The government payers are:

Why register?

Registration is for caregivers providing care to someone in their own home, not other care settings.
In order to receive claim reimbursement from one of the government payers you MUST have active, approved status on the Ageing and Disability Services Personal Home Care Registry.

 

What do I need to do to complete registration?

  1. Determine which class of applicant you are-
    1. Self- employed, individuals, includes family caregivers.
    2. Home care agency- agency completes application in agency name and lists all employees, and collects/submits documents on their behalf.
  2. Determine what type of home care provider you are registering for- see required documents below.
    1. personal caregiver or family caregiver
    2. skilled caregiver- must be Bermuda Nursing Council registered nursing associate or geriatric aide
    3. Nurse -must be Bermuda Nursing Council  registered RN or EN.
  3. Print out the template forms from this document that you will need,
  4. Collect your required documents, copy and be prepared to upload during application.
  5. Log on to: www.helpingservices.bm. Click on  Home Care Provider Registration and  create a user account if new applicant, or log in.
  6. Complete the application and click submit to save your entry .
  7. Complete online screening questions and declarative statement, date and sign. click submit to save entry.
  8. Upload the documents required.

 

What are the required documents?

  1. All Applicants New or Renewing – you will need to print out the template forms (highlighted in blue), have appropriate person fill in, and return to you so that you may upload.
    1. Medical Certificate for Home Care Providers  within last 12 months – completed by  GP/doctor indicating mental and physical fitness to provide care.
    2. Copy of Photo ID
    3. Criminal record check of past 7 years – by BDA Police Service or Magistrate Court– issued within the last 24 months
    4. Current CPR and First Aid certification
    5. Copy of work permit, spousal letter or PRC. Note for  work permit holders- a copy of the work permit is required that identifies the:
      1. Employer as either the person/family receiving the care, or the home care agency,
      2. Role of the care provider,
      3. Date of issue and expiration.
  2. Personal Caregivers –additional required –
    1. Resume of prior work experience.
    2. Home Care Provider Reference Questionnaire.
    3. CPR certification must include First Aid
  3. Skilled caregiver, nursing associate, or nurse-additional required-
    1. Copy of current Bermuda Nursing Council (BNC)  nursing registration card
  4. Home Care Agency -additional required forms –
    1. Employee Listing Form
    2. Screening Questions and Declarative Statement for EACH employee.  
    3. Agency is required to have to have all documents listed in Section A per employee according to type of care provider ON FILE at agency, and readily available..
      1. Audit of agency‘s employee documents may occur by ADS at any time.
      2. Absence of proper documentation for employees may result in Agency suspension or revocation of registration.
    4. Home care agencies MUST also register their business with the Bermuda Health Council Provider Advantage Program. See http://www.bhec.bm/forms-and-registration/#registering-health-service-providers

How do I know when I am approved/active as registered home care provider?

Approval letters are emailed once all documents are reviewed and verified. This may take 3-7 business days. The approval letter will include your approval date and expiry date.  You should keep a copy of this letter to show potential clients if requested.

Your application MUST be completed before it will be reviewed or approved. There is no backdating for your approval date. 

 

When does my home care provider registration expire?

Once approved your home care provider registration expires in 2 years, or, if you are a nursing professional, on the same date as when your nursing registration expires, whichever comes first.

When do I need to update my profile or renew MY REGISTRATION?

You need to update/renew your profile online when there are changes to your contact info, or if your documents need to be renewed.

Everyone needs to renew their home care registration before their expiration date ,generally every 2 years. Nursing professionals  may have a  sooner expiry date for this registry as it will be the same date as your Bermuda Nursing Council registration expiry date. 

As a Home Care agency what if my employee listing changes?

The Home care agency owner/admin will need to submit an additional employee listing form for any new or terminated employees.

 

What if I am already registered as a Nursing Associate or Nurse?

This registration  is separate from the Bermuda Nursing Council registration which is giving you permission to practice nursing or nurse associate duties.  This registration is specific to providing care in a person’s private home and receive government reimbursements on behalf of the person’s home care benefits.  But if you are planning to register for home care as a skilled caregiver (NA, GA) or Nurse (RN, EN) then your Bermuda Nursing Council  registration MUST be current.

 

What if my registration as a nursing associate or nurse has lapsed?

Once your BNC registration lapses, if you are registered with ADS as a skilled care giver or nurse  you are no longer eligible to submit claims as that type of home care provider.  Those types of home care providers require current BNC registration. The scope of practice and responsibilities of the nursing profession is regulated by the Bermuda Nursing and Midwifery Act. Only providers who are current in their registration with the BNC may represent themselves to the public as such.  

Okay, I have been approved as a home care provider. How do I get paid?

As a home care provider your payments for service should be determined as part of the service care agreement you make with a client. Your payments may come from more than one source depending on your client. 

HID Policyholders require prior approval, and a nursing care needs assessment for the Personal Home Care Benefit.  Financial Assistance and  War Vet clients have eligibility and prior approval criteria as well so it is best for the client to check with these departments directly.

Go to : https://www.gov.bm/personal-home-care-benefit  for details, and forms you will need.

Most claims should be submitted to the Health Insurance Department, however some DFA or War Veteran clients do not qualify for the Health Insurance Department’s (HID) Personal Home Care Benefit.  The DFA or War Vet case worker may direct the client to submit these claims directly to their office.

You may also need to submit invoices to your client for any charges not covered by their home care insurance/government benefits. Your invoices need to show for each time period: the total amount charged, the amount reimbursed from their government benefit, and the remaining balance due.

 

What do I need to know as a home care provider to submit proper claims to the government payers?

All health care providers are responsible and accountable for the claims submitted in their name.
Health care providers may only bill for services they delivered directly. You may not submit claims in your name as the provider if someone else is providing the care.

You may only submit a claim for actual dates and times of service that you provided care to the client.

Health care providers not permitted to ask for upfront payments from your clients before service is delivered.
The scope of practice and responsibilities of the nursing profession is regulated by the Bermuda Nursing and Midwifery Act. Only providers who are current in their registration with the Bermuda Nursing Council may represent themselves to the public as such.

 

Where can I access a computer, printer, and scanner?

If you do not have access to a computer or printer in your home, here are some places where you can access and use the website:

Bermuda National Library

Kit and Caboodle

Scanning and uploading documents may be done with a smartphone by using a scanner app or by taking a picture and then uploading into your application.