Which term indicates the initial date for starting home health services?

• A. Inpatient discharge
• B. Start of Care (SOC)
• C. Resumption of Care (ROC)
• D. 14-day period

Answer: (B)

Start of Care marks the first day skilled home health services are provided and activated. This date is used to establish eligibility, trigger the plan of care, and set the timeline for OASIS assessments and billing. It is typically the date of the first home health visit by a skilled clinician and when the care plan officially begins. Inpatient discharge refers to leaving an acute facility, which is not the initiation of home health services. Resumption of Care describes restarting services after a break, not the initial start. The 14-day period is just a span of time, not the official start date. So the term that indicates the initial date for starting home health services is Start of Care.