What did the nurse mean when she said I needed a “Face to Face” with my doctor?

In January 2011 Medicare established a requirement that all patients receiving home health care services under Medicare payment  would need to see a doctor, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse midwife or physician’s assistant  for matters related to why you are receiving home health care services.   
This visit must be a face-to-face encounter (not by telephone) and must have occurred either 90 days before you starting getting home health care services or within 30 days after you start.  For many patients this requirement has already been met by the visit before the doctor ordered the home healthcare or a visit that is already planned soon after starting.  However, in some cases, Medicare requirements mean you will have to make an office visit to your health care provider in order to comply with this rule.