FAQs & Truths About Hospice
Common Questions
What is hospice?
Hospice is a type of end-of-life care in which the focus shifts from medical interventions aimed at a cure to palliative care, in which comfort and support for patients and their families are the main goals.
Related: Our Key Questions article answers many other common questions.
Which program is right for my situation?
Patients and their families often find it challenging to understand the differences between various programs. We’ve developed a chart that provides a high-level overview explaining the differences between each program. Additionally, we’ve provided an explanation of the different levels of hospice care.
How are we going to pay for hospice?
Hospice care is paid for in a variety of ways with Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, TRICARE and charitable funds, if needed.
Discover the truths behind these myths:
Hospice is a place
Myth: Hospice is a place.
Reality: Hospice is not a place, but a concept of care that focuses on comfort for the patient rather than a cure. Hospice care usually takes place in the comfort of an individual’s home, but can also be provided in any environment in which a person lives, including a nursing home, assisted living facility, or residential care facility.
Reality: Hospice is not a place, but a concept of care that focuses on comfort for the patient rather than a cure. Hospice care usually takes place in the comfort of an individual’s home, but can also be provided in any environment in which a person lives, including a nursing home, assisted living facility, or residential care facility.
Hospice means the patient will soon die.
Myth: Hospice means that the patient will soon die.
Reality: Receiving hospice care does not mean giving up hope or that death is imminent. The earlier an individual receives hospice care, the more opportunity there is to stabilize a patient’s medical condition and address other needs.
Hospice is for cancer patients.
Myth: Hospice is for cancer patients.
Reality: A large number of hospice patients have congestive heart failure, Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, chronic lung disease, or other life-limiting conditions.
Reality: A large number of hospice patients have congestive heart failure, Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, chronic lung disease, or other life-limiting conditions.
Patients can only receive care for a limited amount of time.
Myth: Patients can only receive hospice care for a limited amount of time.
Reality: The Medicare benefit, and most private insurance, pays for hospice care as long as the patient continues to meet the criteria necessary. Patients may come on and off hospice care, and re-enroll in hospice care as needed.
Reality: The Medicare benefit, and most private insurance, pays for hospice care as long as the patient continues to meet the criteria necessary. Patients may come on and off hospice care, and re-enroll in hospice care as needed.
Hospice provides 24-hour care.
Myth: Hospice provides 24-hour care.
Reality: The hospice team (which includes doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, home health aids, and chaplains) visits patients on a scheduled basis according to the individualized care plan developed in conjunction with the patient and family. Our staff is available 24 hours a day/7 days a week for support and care.
Reality: The hospice team (which includes doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, home health aids, and chaplains) visits patients on a scheduled basis according to the individualized care plan developed in conjunction with the patient and family. Our staff is available 24 hours a day/7 days a week for support and care.
All hospice programs are the same
Myth: All hospice programs are the same.
Reality: All licensed hospice programs must provide certain services and meet certain criteria, but the range of support services and programs differ. Many hospices use contract nurses. Accredited Hospices of America does not. Our staff has extensive experience in caring for hospice patients.
Reality: All licensed hospice programs must provide certain services and meet certain criteria, but the range of support services and programs differ. Many hospices use contract nurses. Accredited Hospices of America does not. Our staff has extensive experience in caring for hospice patients.
Hospice is just for the patient.
Myth: Hospice is just for the patient.
Reality: Hospice focuses on comfort, dignity, and emotional support. The quality of life for the patient, family members and others who are caregivers, is the highest priority.
Reality: Hospice focuses on comfort, dignity, and emotional support. The quality of life for the patient, family members and others who are caregivers, is the highest priority.
A patient needs Medicare or Medicaid to afford hospice services.
Myth: A patient needs Medicare or Medicaid to afford hospice services.
Reality: Although coverage for hospice is available through Medicare and in 44 states and the District of Columbia under Medicaid, most private insurance plans, HMO’s, and other managed care organizations include hospice care as a benefit.
Reality: Although coverage for hospice is available through Medicare and in 44 states and the District of Columbia under Medicaid, most private insurance plans, HMO’s, and other managed care organizations include hospice care as a benefit.
A physician decides whether a patient should receive hospice care and which agency should provide that care.
Myth: A physician decides whether a patient should receive hospice care and which agency should provide that care.
Reality: The role of the physician is to recommend care, whether hospice or traditional curative care. It is the patient’s right (or in some cases, the right of the person who holds power of attorney) and decision to determine when hospice is appropriate and which program suits his or her needs. The hospice medical director reviews each patient’s situation and determines if the patient is eligible for hospice care.
Reality: The role of the physician is to recommend care, whether hospice or traditional curative care. It is the patient’s right (or in some cases, the right of the person who holds power of attorney) and decision to determine when hospice is appropriate and which program suits his or her needs. The hospice medical director reviews each patient’s situation and determines if the patient is eligible for hospice care.
To be eligible for hospice care, a patient must already be bedridden.
Myth: To be eligible for hospice care, a patient must already be bedridden.
Reality: Hospice care is often appropriate when an advanced illness is present, regardless of the patient’s physical condition. Many of the patients served through hospice continue to lead productive and rewarding lives. Together, the patient, family, and physician determine when hospice services should begin.
Reality: Hospice care is often appropriate when an advanced illness is present, regardless of the patient’s physical condition. Many of the patients served through hospice continue to lead productive and rewarding lives. Together, the patient, family, and physician determine when hospice services should begin.
After six months, patients are no longer eligible to receive hospice care through Medicare and other insurances.
Myth: After six months, patients are no longer eligible to receive hospice care through Medicare and other insurances.
Reality: According to the Medicare hospice program, services may be provided to terminally ill Medicare beneficiaries with a life expectancy of six months or less. However, if the patient lives beyond the initial six months, he or she can continue receiving hospice care as long as the attending physician recertifies that the patient is terminally ill. Medicare, Medicaid, and many other private and commercial insurances will continue to cover hospice services as long as the patient meets hospice criteria of having a terminal prognosis and is recertified with a limited life expectancy of six months or less.
Reality: According to the Medicare hospice program, services may be provided to terminally ill Medicare beneficiaries with a life expectancy of six months or less. However, if the patient lives beyond the initial six months, he or she can continue receiving hospice care as long as the attending physician recertifies that the patient is terminally ill. Medicare, Medicaid, and many other private and commercial insurances will continue to cover hospice services as long as the patient meets hospice criteria of having a terminal prognosis and is recertified with a limited life expectancy of six months or less.
Once a patient elects hospice, he or she can no longer receive care from the primary care physician.
Myth: Once a patient elects hospice, he or she can no longer receive care from the primary care physician.
Reality: Hospice reinforces the relationship between patient and primary physician by advocating either office or home visits, according to the physician preference. Hospices work closely with the primary physician and consider the continuation of the patient-physician relationship to be of the highest priority.
Reality: Hospice reinforces the relationship between patient and primary physician by advocating either office or home visits, according to the physician preference. Hospices work closely with the primary physician and consider the continuation of the patient-physician relationship to be of the highest priority.
Once a patient elects hospice care, he or she cannot return to traditional medical treatment.
Myth: Once a patient elects hospice care, he or she cannot return to traditional medical treatment.
Reality: Patients always have the right to reinstate traditional care at any time, for any reason. If a patient’s condition improves or the disease goes into remission, he or she can be discharged from a hospice and return to aggressive, curative measures, if so desired. If a discharged patient wants to return to hospice care at a later time, Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance companies and HMO’s will allow readmission.
Reality: Patients always have the right to reinstate traditional care at any time, for any reason. If a patient’s condition improves or the disease goes into remission, he or she can be discharged from a hospice and return to aggressive, curative measures, if so desired. If a discharged patient wants to return to hospice care at a later time, Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance companies and HMO’s will allow readmission.
Hospice means giving up hope.
Myth: Hospice means giving up hope.
Reality: When faced with an advanced illness, many patients and family members tend to dwell on the imminent loss of life rather than on making the most of the life that remains. Hospice helps patients reclaim the spirit of life.
Reality: When faced with an advanced illness, many patients and family members tend to dwell on the imminent loss of life rather than on making the most of the life that remains. Hospice helps patients reclaim the spirit of life.