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Hospice Care Frequently
Asked Questions |
| What is Hospice Care? |
| Hospice care is a way of caring for people with
an incurable illness. Hospice provides "palliative care." This means
the goal of care is to provide comfort and dignity. The hospice staff
involves the patient and family in this care. Hospice care is offered
wherever the need exists - usually at home, but also in nursing homes
and hospitals. |
| Why have Hospice? |
| Hospice care lets the patient and
family have more involvement in the care and decisions about treatment.
All care is still directed through your attending physician. |
| What does Hospice do? |
| Hospice staff have special training in
taking care of people with incurable illnesses. The hospice team is
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for any questions or help.
Hospice staff will visit you and your family regularly to help manage
your care. Hospice uses doctors, nurses, pharmacists, nurse aides,
social workers, spiritual care givers, and volunteers to plan your care.
Hospice staff can also provide continuous care in your home during
periods of crisis. Hospice counselors will also maintain contact with
your family during bereavement. |
| What is covered by Hospice? |
| Besides staff and volunteer visits,
hospice will provide whatever non-curative services are needed to treat
your incurable illness. This includes equipment, supplies, lab tests,
medicine, physical and occupational therapy, speech/language pathology
services, dietary and other counseling, and short term inpatient care,
including respite care. Hospice of Hope covers radiation and/or
chemotherapy to relieve symptoms, tube feedings and/or intravenous
fluids for minimal hydration to maintain comfort. The hospice staff will
talk to you about your needs. Let your hospice nurse know of your
concerns, and remember, you can call the hospice office at
1-800-928-4848 in Kentucky or 1-800-928-4243 in Ohio, any time day or
night. To make sure you have the best quality care, Hospice of Hope will
arrange for the delivery of equipment, supplies and medicine. |
| How is Hospice paid for? |
| Hospice care is covered by Medicare, Medicaid,
and most private insurance plans. If you do not have any of these, you
will be billed based on your financial situation. |
| What is not covered by Hospice? |
| Hospice does not cover treatment
of unrelated illnesses you may have besides your incurable condition.
Attending physician charges and nursing home room and board are not
covered under the hospice benefit. |
| What do I have to pay for? |
| You must pay for any items or services
that are not covered under hospice. You must pay for any services you
choose to receive from a non-contracting facility or agency. This
includes medical equipment and supplies from a non-contracting company.
If you have Medicare, you will be billed for a 5% co-payment on the cost
of your medicine, up to $5.00 per prescription and a 5% co-payment for
each day of a 5-day respite stay in a nursing home. If you are a nursing
home patient and Medicaid is paying your room and board, you must
continue to pay your portion of the room and board as determined by
Medicaid. In Ohio, you must also pay the nursing home if you want them
to hold your bed if you go to the hospital for your incurable illness.
In Kentucky, Medicaid will continue to pay the room and board for 14
consecutive days with a total of 45 days in a lifetime.
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| How long can I have Hospice care? |
| Hospice care is provided as long as you are "certified"
as terminally ill. This "certification" is done by your hospice care
givers, including the medical director and your attending physician.
You have the right to cancel hospice care at any time. You also have
the right to change hospice providers, if another hospice is available
in your area. |
| What if I change my mind? |
| You always have the right to make choices about your care. If you decide you no longer want hospice care, you may revoke at any time. If you decide to have hospice care again in the future, it will be available to you. |