Who Should Be Referred?
When hospice first began in the United States in the 1970’s it was viewed as primarily for cancer patients. Today, the variety of illnesses that will qualify a person to be served by Hospice has evolved.
Some of the end-stage life-limiting illnesses that may qualify for hospice care are:lung disease, heart disease, neuromuscular disease, cancer, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer's disease or dementia, failure to thrive, debility (multiple disease processes associated with aging), or any illness with a prognosis of six months or less if it runs its normal course.
who pays for hospice care?
People who are eligible for Medicare usually obtain hospice care as a fully covered benefit. All medications and equipment needed for the management of the terminal disease is paid for by Medicare-certified hospice organizations.
Medicare covers:
- physicians’ services
- nursing care (regular visits)
- medical appliances and supplies related to the terminal illness
- outpatient drugs for symptom management and pain relief
- short-term acute inpatient care, including respite care
- home health aide and homemaker services
- physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech/language pathology services
- medical social services
- counseling, including dietary and spiritual counseling
Many other health plans, HMOs, Medicaid and managed care groups have similar hospice benefit. One of our social workers can assist you in these financial matters.
Hospice & Palliative Care of Washington County will care for any patient regardless of a patient's ability to pay.
Charitable care is made available through the generous contributions of donors to our Washington County Hospice Foundation.
We handle all insurance billing concerns so you can focus on what is important.
Please call if you have questions about the cost of hospice care. We are happy to talk with you about any financial concerns. |
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guide to hospice eligibility
- The patient has a limited life expectancy of about six months or less and that he or she now desires comfort or palliative measures of care.
- Have a physician certify that the patient is beyond the active phase of curative treatment for the disease.
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