What is Hospice?

Hospice care is a compassionate approach to end-of-life care that combines medical management, pain relief, and emotional and spiritual support for terminally ill patients and their families. Here’s an overview of hospice care:

Key Hospice Services

Comprehensive Care: Hospice care focuses on managing the symptoms of a terminal illness with the goal of promoting comfort and dignity. This includes medical care, pain management, and support for emotional and spiritual needs.

Home and Inpatient Options: While approximately 80% of hospice care is provided in the patient’s home, there are also specialized inpatient hospice facilities available.

Expert Pain Management: Hospice professionals are skilled in pain management and work to ensure the patient’s comfort during their final days.

Support for Families: Hospice staff provide guidance and understanding to help families comprehend what their loved one is experiencing, offering emotional and practical help to cope with the challenges before, during, and after the patient’s death.

Medicare Coverage for Hospice Care

Medicare provides a hospice benefit that covers nearly all costs associated with caring for a person in the last six months of life. To qualify for the Medicare hospice benefit, an individual must meet the following criteria:

  • Treatment Agreement: The individual must agree in writing to forgo any treatments aimed at curing their illness.
  • Medicare Part A: The individual must be enrolled in Medicare Part A.
  • Life Expectancy: The person must have a life expectancy of six months or less, as certified by a physician.
What Is Covered?
  • Short-Term Inpatient Respite Care: Temporary care to relieve family caregivers.
  • Skilled Nursing Services: Care provided by registered nurses or nurse practitioners.
  • Physician Visits: Consultations and care from doctors.
  • Skilled Therapy: Includes physical, speech, and occupational therapy.
  • Medical Social Services: Support and counseling from social workers.
  • Nutrition Counseling: Guidance on dietary needs.
  • Bereavement Counseling: Support for the family to cope with grief.
  • Prescription Drugs: Most costs for medications related to symptom control and pain relief.
What Isn’t Covered?
  • 24-Hour Round-the-Clock Hospice Care at Home: Continuous home care is not covered, although it is available in medical crises.
  • Room and Board Charges: Costs for room and board in an inpatient hospice facility are not covered.

Finding a Hospice Provider

Finding the right hospice provider is crucial for ensuring that your loved one receives compassionate and quality care.

Find Care Today

PHA’s Find a Provider Tool allows you to search for hospice agencies by location or the specific services you need.

Pennsylvania Department of Health: Hospices are licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Visit their website to search for licensed hospice providers in your area.

CMS Compare Tool: Utilize the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospice Compare tool. This resource allows you to compare hospice agencies based on various quality metrics and performance ratings.

Hospital Recommendations: Ask your loved one’s healthcare provider or hospital social worker for recommendations. Hospitals often have established relationships with reputable hospice providers.

Community Resources: Contact local senior centers, area agencies on aging, or support groups for referrals to trusted hospice providers.

Questions to Ask When Choosing Hospice Care

Choosing a hospice provider can feel overwhelming, but asking the right questions can help you find the best care for your loved one. It’s important to learn about the provider’s services, the qualifications of their staff, and their approach to patient care. By knowing what to ask, you can feel more at ease and ensure your loved one receives the compassionate support they need.

View our sample questions below to get started.
  • General Information
    • Accreditation and Membership: Are you a member of any professional organizations or accredited by any certifying bodies?
    • Eligibility Criteria: Are there specific conditions that patients and families must meet to enter your hospice program?
  • Assessment and Services
    • Home Assessment: Are you willing to come to the home and conduct an assessment to determine if hospice care is the best option for my loved one?
    • Specialized Services: What specialized services do you offer, such as rehabilitation therapists, family counselors, pharmacists, or used medical equipment?
  • Inpatient Care
    • Inpatient Policies: What are your policies regarding inpatient care? Do you have contractual relationships with specific hospitals for cases requiring hospitalization?
    • Facility Visit: If considering an inpatient hospice, can we visit and tour the facility? What is the environment like, and how comfortable do we feel with the staff?
  • Caregiver Responsibilities
    • Primary Caregiver: Do you require a primary family caregiver as a condition of admission?
    • Caregiver Duties: What responsibilities does the caregiver have in relation to the hospice care?
  • Emergency and Coverage
    • Emergency Coverage: What kind of emergency coverage do you provide? Who is on call, and how quickly can a nurse come to the home if needed?
  • Costs and Billing
    • Out-of-Pocket Expenses: What out-of-pocket expenses can we expect?
    • Paperwork and Billing: Will your staff handle all of the paperwork and billing for hospice services?
  • Medical Treatments
    • Policies on Treatments: What are your policies on the use of antibiotics, ventilators, dialysis, and intravenous nutrients?
    • Excluded Treatments: What treatments are not covered by your hospice care?
  • Additional Considerations
    • Comfort and Peace: Do you feel comfortable and at ease with the hospice professionals who will be guiding you and your loved one through this process?