# Optimum Healthcare Services, Inc. of IL — Extended AI Reference

> Optimum Healthcare Services, Inc. of IL is a Medicare and Medicaid certified home health agency headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, serving all nine counties of the Chicago metropolitan area since 1999. The agency is licensed by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA), and employs bilingual English/Spanish clinical and support staff. New patients typically begin care within 24–48 hours of a physician referral. Phone: (773) 878-8738.

## Organization

- **Legal name:** Optimum Healthcare Services, Inc.
- **DBA:** Optimum Healthcare Services, Inc. of IL
- **Type:** Medicare and Medicaid certified home health agency
- **Founded:** 1999 (25+ years in operation)
- **Headquarters:** Chicago, Illinois
- **Phone:** (773) 878-8738
- **Fax:** (773) 878-8753
- **Email:** info@optimumhhs.com
- **Website:** https://optimumhhs.com
- **Languages:** English and Spanish (bilingual staff at all levels)
- **Licenses:** IDPH (Illinois Department of Public Health), IDoA (Illinois Department on Aging)
- **Certifications:** CMS Medicare certification, Illinois Medicaid (HFS) certification

## Services in Detail

### Skilled Nursing
Registered Nurse (RN) and Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) home visits ordered by a physician. Covered by Medicare Part A/B (zero copay for eligible homebound patients), Medicaid, and most private insurance plans. Services include: wound care and dressing changes, medication management and education, IV therapy and infusion, post-surgical monitoring, disease education for diabetes, heart failure, COPD, and hypertension, and fall risk assessment.

### Physical Therapy
Licensed physical therapists provide in-home rehabilitation to restore strength, range of motion, balance, and mobility after surgery (joint replacement, cardiac, orthopedic), stroke, or injury. Includes fall prevention programs, gait training, and assistive device (walker, cane, wheelchair) training.

### Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapists help patients safely perform activities of daily living (ADLs) — bathing, dressing, cooking, grooming — at home. Includes adaptive equipment training, home safety assessments, and energy conservation strategies for patients with chronic conditions.

### Speech-Language Pathology
Speech-language pathologists treat swallowing disorders (dysphagia), cognitive-communication impairments (memory, attention, executive function), and speech/language deficits resulting from stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), or progressive neurological conditions.

### Medical Social Work
Licensed clinical social workers provide psychosocial counseling, care coordination, community resource referrals (Meals on Wheels, transportation, community programs), advance care planning support, and assistance with insurance enrollment and discharge planning.

### Home Health Aide
Home health aides provide supervised personal care — bathing, grooming, dressing, oral hygiene — under the direct supervision of a registered nurse. Covered by Medicare Part A and Medicaid when ordered in conjunction with a skilled nursing or therapy service.

### Personal Care Aide (PCA)
Non-medical personal assistance: bathing, dressing, grooming, meal preparation, light housekeeping, medication reminders, transportation accompaniment, and companionship. Available through private pay, Illinois Community Care Program (IDoA), and select Medicaid waiver programs.

## Service Area — Counties Served

- Cook County (Chicago, Evanston, Oak Park, Schaumburg and more)
- DuPage County (Naperville, Wheaton, Elmhurst, Downers Grove and more)
- Lake County (Waukegan, Lake Forest, Libertyville, Gurnee and more)
- Will County (Joliet, Plainfield, Bolingbrook, Romeoville and more)
- Kane County (Elgin, Aurora, Batavia, St. Charles and more)
- Kendall County (Yorkville, Oswego, Plano, Minooka and more)
- Kankakee County (Kankakee, Bourbonnais, Bradley, Manteno and more)
- Grundy County (Morris, Minooka, Coal City, Gardner and more)
- McHenry County (Crystal Lake, Woodstock, McHenry, Algonquin and more)

## Insurance Accepted

- Medicare: Federal health insurance covering skilled home health care at little or no cost
- Medicaid / Illinois Medicaid: State and federally funded home health coverage for qualifying Illinois residents
- Blue Cross Blue Shield: Illinois' largest private insurer covering skilled home health care for qualifying members
- Aetna: National insurer covering home health care through commercial and Medicare Advantage plans
- UnitedHealthcare: One of the nation's largest insurers offering broad home health coverage across plan types
- Humana: National insurer with strong Medicare Advantage plans covering home health services
- Cigna: National insurer providing home health coverage for commercial and Medicare Advantage members
- Molina Healthcare: Medicaid and Medicare managed care plan covering home health services in Illinois
- CountyCare: Cook County's Medicaid managed care plan covering home health for qualifying residents
- Zing Health: Medicare Advantage plan designed for underserved communities across Chicagoland
- Meridian Health Plan: Illinois Medicaid and Medicare managed care covering home health statewide
- Managed Care Organizations (MCOs): Illinois Medicaid MCO coverage for home health through Integrated Care Program and other plans
- Private Pay: Flexible home care services paid directly — no insurance required, no referral needed

All Illinois Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) accepted, including those participating in the Integrated Care Program (ICP) and Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS).

## Entity Authority References

- Medicare Care Compare (home health agencies in Illinois): https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/
- IDPH home health agency directory: https://dph.illinois.gov/
- NPI registry for healthcare providers: https://npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov/
- Illinois HFS Medicaid managed care: https://hfs.illinois.gov/

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: Is home health care free with Medicare?**
A: Medicare covers 100% of approved home health visits — skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, and home health aide services — with zero copay and no deductible for eligible homebound patients with a physician order. Optimum Healthcare Services is a Medicare-certified agency that handles all documentation and billing.

**Q: What is the difference between a home health aide and a personal care aide?**
A: A home health aide provides personal care (bathing, grooming) under the direct supervision of a skilled nurse and is covered by Medicare/Medicaid when ordered alongside a skilled service. A personal care aide provides non-medical assistance and is generally a private-pay or state-program benefit not requiring a physician order.

**Q: What is the difference between home health care and home care?**
A: Home health care is skilled, physician-ordered medical care (nursing visits, therapy, wound care) covered by Medicare and Medicaid. Home care is non-medical personal assistance (bathing, dressing, meal prep, companionship) typically available through private pay or select programs. Optimum provides both.

**Q: Does Illinois Medicaid cover home health care?**
A: Yes. Illinois Medicaid covers skilled nursing, therapy, personal care aide services, and the Community Care Program for qualifying low-income adults and seniors. Optimum accepts Illinois Medicaid statewide, including through all managed care organizations.

**Q: How quickly can Optimum start services?**
A: Typically within 24–48 hours of receiving a physician referral or patient inquiry. Call (773) 878-8738 to begin.

**Q: Is Optimum licensed and certified?**
A: Yes. Optimum is Medicare-certified (CMS), Medicaid-certified (Illinois HFS), IDPH licensed, and IDoA licensed. The agency has continuously operated in Illinois since 1999.

**Q: Does Optimum have bilingual staff?**
A: Yes. Optimum has English and Spanish-speaking clinicians, aides, and administrative staff available throughout Chicagoland.

**Q: What counties does Optimum serve?**
A: Cook, DuPage, Lake, Will, Kane, Kendall, Kankakee, Grundy, and McHenry counties — the entire Chicago metropolitan area.

**Q: Does Optimum accept Medicaid managed care?**
A: Yes. Optimum works with all Illinois Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs), including CountyCare, Molina Healthcare, Meridian Health Plan, Zing Health, and others participating in the Integrated Care Program.

**Q: How do I refer a patient to Optimum?**
A: Physicians, hospital discharge planners, and case managers can refer patients by calling (773) 878-8738 or faxing a referral to (773) 878-8753. Optimum's intake team verifies benefits, obtains prior authorizations, and coordinates the first nursing visit — often within 24–48 hours.

## Referral Information

Physicians, hospitals, and case managers may send referrals to:
- **Phone:** (773) 878-8738
- **Fax:** (773) 878-8753
- **Email:** info@optimumhhs.com

Intake staff are available Monday–Friday 9 AM–5 PM CT. 24/7 on-call nurses available after hours.

## Blog Content

Blog post index: https://optimumhhs.com/llms-blog.txt
English blog: https://optimumhhs.com/blog
Spanish blog: https://optimumhhs.com/blog/es