CMS Pub. 100-02, ch. 7, § 50.4.1.2

Routine supplies are supplies that are customarily used in small quantities during the

course of most home care visits. They are usually included in the staff's supplies and not

designated for a specific patient. These supplies are included in the cost per visit of home

health care services. Routine supplies would not include those supplies that are

specifically ordered by the physician or allowed practitioner or are essential to HHA

personnel in order to effectuate the plan of care.

Examples of supplies which are usually considered routine include, but are not limited to:

A. Dressings and Skin Care

• Swabs, alcohol preps, and skin prep pads;

• Tape removal pads;

• Cotton balls;

• Adhesive and paper tape;

• Nonsterile applicators; and

• 4 x 4's.

B. Infection Control Protection

• Nonsterile gloves;

• Aprons;

• Masks; and

• Gowns.

C. Blood Drawing Supplies

• Specimen containers.

D. Incontinence Supplies

• Incontinence briefs and Chux Covered in the normal course of a visit. For

example, if a home health aide in the course of a bathing visit to a patient

determines the patient requires an incontinence brief change, the incontinence

brief in this example would be covered as a routine medical supply.

E. Other

• Thermometers; and

• Tongue depressors.

There are occasions when the supplies listed in the above examples would be considered

nonroutine and thus would be considered a billable supply, i.e., if they are required in

quantity, for recurring need, and are included in the plan of care. Examples include, but

are not limited to, tape, and 4x4s for major dressings.