Hospice Care

Those with Medicare Part A, Medicaid and some private insurances and who meet all these conditions may qualify:

• A physician certifies that the individual is terminally
  ill, expected to live 6 months or less;
• The individual accepts comfort care instead of care to
  cure the illness;
• The individual signs a statement choosing hospice care
  instead of other Medicare-covered treatments for the
  terminal illness and related-conditions.

Benefits typically cover everything related to terminal illness from a Medicare-approved hospice provider. Most hospice care is provided in the home; however, it may also be covered in an inpatient facility. Depending on the plan of care, hospice can include any or all these services:

• Doctor services
• Nursing care
• Medical equipment
• Prescription drugs
• Hospice aide & homemaker services
• Social worker
• Physical, occupational, speech therapy services
• Dietary counseling
• Grief & loss counseling
• Short-term inpatient care
• Short-term respite care
• Spiritual care

While hospice care is intended for people with a life expectancy of six month or less, if the illness runs its normal course, predicting how long a person may live can prove difficult. Some may need hospice assistance for more than six months before they pass away. If the physician continues to certify the individual is still eligible, coverage may continue to pay for hospice care after the initial six-month period.

Hospice care uses benefit periods. Those eligible can receive hospice care for two 90-day periods, followed by an unlimited number of 60-day benefit periods. Patients always have the right to stop hospice care.

Notre Dame Hospice offers an initial hospice consultation with a hospice nurse with no obligation. The consultation helps individuals understand care options, as well as treatments, that can manage pain and symptoms.

If hospice is selected, our interdisciplinary team helps manage the individual’s pain and symptoms and provides the medications, medical supplies and equipment to treat the hospice diagnosis. Our staff will take the time to explain the disease process and how to care for the individual. We also provide emotional support and bereavement services for both the individual and family.

As much of the day-to-day care of the individual is provided by family and friends, our team provides caregivers instruction on providing care. Nurses are available 24/7 when questions or crises arise. We can also arrange for respite care.

Hospice is typically provided in the individual’s home; however, if a need for inpatient hospice care is determined, Notre Dame Hospice can make arrangements for that stay.

We recognize that the individual always has the right to stop hospice care at any time.