What Is Hospice?

Hospice is a philosophy of care that focuses on the support and care of people in the later stages of incurable disease when cure is no longer a realistic goal. Hospice neither hastens nor postpones death, but rather views death as a natural and normal process. When medicine and traditional measures cannot provide a cure, the goal of hospice is to provide comfort and support, focusing on minimizing the patient’s physical and emotional pain while promoting a quality of life that preserves dignity, as well as providing guidance and support for the caretakers.

Payment for hospice care is widely available. Coverage is provided by Medicare, Medicaid and many private health insurance policies. Coverage under Medicare and Medicaid is 100%, meaning that the patient and family do not have any cost assigned to them for services provided- as long as their Medicare or Medicaid is active. Coverage varies under private health insurance depending on individual policies. We will provide you with more detailed information regarding your coverage during the referral and admission process.

Generally, under the hospice benefit, all medicine, equipment and supplies related to the terminal diagnosis are covered. Also included in the benefit are nursing and home health aide services, medical director oversight, social worker and spiritual support, volunteer visits and bereavement follow-up. A nurse is available by phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays. The nurse will review your individual plan of care and provide you with details regarding your coverage.

To be admitted to the hospice program, the hospice must have an order from your physician. He or she will need to agree that hospice care is appropriate at this time. The only requirements are for patients to have a limited life expectancy- six months or less- and that curative treatment is no longer being pursued. A designated caregiver is identified during the admission process, at which time consents are reviewed and signed and patient specific plans are made with the physician, patient and family.

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