Private Duty Nursing

Home health provides short, intermittent skilled visits under Medicare for specific needs. Private duty nursing provides continuous, hourly, or shift-based one-on-one nursing for complex, ongoing needs. Private duty is more intensive and usually paid privately, by Medicaid, or by long-term care insurance.

Generally no. Original Medicare covers only intermittent, part-time skilled home health for homebound seniors — not continuous private duty nursing. Medicaid (often through waivers for medically complex patients) and long-term care insurance are more common funding sources.

Seniors with complex medical needs benefit most — those on ventilators, feeding tubes, IV therapy, or with tracheostomies, serious wounds, or unstable chronic conditions. It's also used for intensive post-hospital recovery requiring continuous skilled monitoring at home.

Yes. Both RNs and LPNs provide private duty nursing, depending on the care required and state scope-of-practice rules. RNs handle higher-acuity tasks and assessments; LPNs deliver many routine skilled tasks at a lower hourly rate, often under RN supervision.

Call 1-800-MEDIGAP (1-800-633-4427) for free help. An advisor can explain what private duty nursing covers, estimate costs, review Medicaid and insurance options, and connect you with licensed agencies that provide skilled in-home nursing in your area.