Medicare hospice benefits

Introduction

Once a patient chooses Medicare hospice, he/she signs off on Medicare part A

Benefits: (covered services)

• services of physicians, nurses, social workers, dieticians, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapists, home health aides, homemaker services, music therapist, chaplain, bereavement counselors
• case management by a hospice nurse
• access to a hospice physician
• medications at no cost provided they are related to the terminal diagnosis & are palliative
• tests & other treatments at no cost provided they are related to the terminal diagnosis & are palliative
• provision of durable equipment, including hospital bed, bedside commode
• bereavement services for 13 months after a death
• non-reimbursible services
  • care from provider NOT arranged by hospice team
  • room & board
  • care in an emergency room or inpatient facility, UNLESS arranged by hospice team
  • nursing care in a postacute-care nursing facility
  • ambulance transportation, UNLESS arranged by hospice team
  • private duty caregivers
  • medications for chronic conditions (non terminal, i.e. diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease ...)
• periods of care
  • two 90 day periods, followed by unlimited number of 60 day periods
• restrictions
  • signed acknowledgement that treatment (including medications) cannot be directed at curing terminal illness
  • certification by physician at beginning of each period that prognosis is 6 months or less

Additional terms

• hospice
• Medicare