Christian Care Hospice
Christian Care Hospice
Eligibility for Hospice
Hospice care is a special way of caring for a patient whose disease cannot be cured. It is available as a benefit under Medicare Hospital Insurance (Part A). Medicare beneficiaries who choose hospice care receive non-curative medical and support services for their terminal illness.
To be eligible, they must be certified by a physician to be terminally ill with a life expectancy of six months or less. While they no longer receive treatment toward a cure, they require close medical and supportive care which a hospice can provide. Hospice care under Medicare includes both home care and inpatient care, when needed, and a variety of services not otherwise covered by Medicare. The focus is on care, not cure. Emphasis is on helping the person to make the most of each hour and each day of remaining life by providing comfort and relief from pain. Hospice Medicare Benefit Structure
The benefit structure includes two benefit periods of 90 days each, followed by unlimited number of 60-day periods. When the patient elects the Hospice Medicare Benefit, he waives the right to standard Medicare benefits for treatment of the terminal illness and related conditions. The patient has the right to revoke his hospice election at any time but forfeits any remaining days in the current election period. At the end of each period, the patient is reevaluated to certify the condition still meets the requirements of the benefit.
Hospice Medicare Benefit Coverage
- Nursing care, home visits as needed to assist patient and/or family member with progressions of the disease and crisis situation
- On-call services of an RN are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Physician services
- Medical social services
- Counseling / pastoral services
- Medical equipment and supplies, including drugs and biologicals
- Home Health and homemaker services
- Therapies (physical, occupational, speech)
- Short-term inpatient and respite
- Bereavement counseling
- Drugs for symptom management and pain control
Christian Care Centers