The Medicare Hospice Program

Hospice can be a comprehensive well being care program for the seriously ill, who may or may possibly not be close to death. In fact, it isn't at all rare that a beneficiary can get well sufficient to leave hospice.

Inside the case in the Medicare hospice program, it offers comfort and help to persons who are severely ill in order to assist them live their remaining time towards the fullest extent feasible. Hospice focuses on physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs. Furthermore, it supplies assistance towards the spouse and children members who are caring for the severely-ill person.

The benefit of hospice is that it can be provided within the household. The beneficiary is assigned a nurse who comes by to frequently check things including vital signs and to assist with chronic or even acute professional medical difficulties. They, or another nurse, are on call 24-hours a day for emergencies. That means while hospice beneficiaries still hold routine appointments with doctors, hospice nurses can handle colds, the flu along with other ailments that would ordinarily send them to a physician. This helps reduce Medicare emergency room costs and offers the beneficiary and family members peace of mind.

In addition, Medicare hospice assigns a licensed, professional social worker to assist family care givers with advice, counseling and resources. And hospice may well even supply a hospital-style bed, oxygen or an IV to prevent dehydration

Here is a general overview of the services that Medicare hospice services cover: Medicare Coverage For Hospice Care

• Doctor services
  
• Nursing care
  
• Medical equipment (such as wheelchairs or walkers)
  
• Medical supplies (such as bandages and catheters)
  
• Drugs for symptom control or pain relief (may require small co-payment)
  
• Hospice aide and homemaker services
  
• Physical and occupational therapy
  
• Speech-language pathology services
  
• Social worker services
  
• Dietary counseling
  
• Grief and loss counseling for you and your family
  
• Short-term inpatient care (for pain and symptom management)
  
• Short-term respite care (may require small co-payment)
  
• Any other Medicare-covered services needed to manage your pain and other symptoms, as recommended by your hospice team

As of January 1, 2011, the health care reforms will require that a nurse practitioner or doctor have a face-to-face meeting with the patient at the end of the six month period to re-certify his/her eligibility.