What is Hospice?
Hospice is a program of care and support for people who are terminally
ill. It is available as a benefit under Medicare Hospital Insurance (Part
A). The focus of hospice is on care, not treatment or curing an
illness. Emphasis is placed on helping
people who are terminally ill live
comfortably by providing comfort and relief from pain. Some
important facts about hospice are:
** A specially trained team of
professionals and caregivers provide care
for the “whole person”, including his or her physical,
emotional, social and spiritual needs.
** Services may include physical care, counseling, drugs, equipment, and
supplies for terminal illness and related condition(s).
** Care is generally provided in the home.
** Hospice isn’t only for people with cancer.
** Family caregivers can get support.
When all the requirements are met, the Medicare hospice benefit includes:
** Physician and nursing services
** Medical equipment and supplies
** Outpatient drugs or biological for pain relief and symptom management
** Hospice aide and homemaker services
** Physical, occupational and speech-language pathology therapy services
** Short term inpatient and respite care
** Social worker services
** Grief and loss counseling for the member and his or her family
When a member/patient enrolled in hospice
receives care from your practice or
facility, it is very important that all of the care be
coordinated with their hospice physician. Once a Member is enrolled in hospice,
CarePlus Health Plans, Inc. (CarePlus) is not financially responsible for any
services covered by Medicare regardless of whether the care is related to the
hospice diagnosis or not, as long as the service provided is a Medicare covered
benefit. CarePlus enrolls Hospice members into a new group effective the 1st of
the month, following election of hospice, and removes them from the group at
the end of the month, if the Member terminates or revokes the hospice
benefit. The Plan will continue to assist in coordination of the member’s
care to the best of its ability, however, the payment process to providers
changes.
