Who is eligible for Hospice care?
The Medicare Hospice Benefit is available to all patients with the Medicare part A benefit and with a life expectancy of six months or less if the terminal illness or disease runs its normal course. The patient, of course, must choose to elect hospice, and the patient’s eligibility must be certified by a physician (most often the hospice’s medical director, together with the patient’s attending physician). In addition, hospice care is covered by most Medicaid and commercial insurance plans.
The patient must have a diagnosis of terminal cancer. A non cancer diagnosis will be considered on a case by case basis following consultation between the attending physician and the medical director. The patient must be certified as having a life expectancy of six months or less. All definitive therapy must be over. The patient and his/her family must be aware of the diagnosis and prognosis. The patient must reside in Brazoria County. The patient must have a consistently available relative or friend who can capably provide total patient care between hospice team visits. Q – When should a patient be referred to hospice? A – When the patient has six months or less to live, all attempts to cure have been abandoned and the patient/family has been told of the prognosis, then the patient should be referred to hospice. It is best not to wait until death is imminent since the team will not have time to establish rapport or intervene effectively. It takes several visits for the family to get t
Many persons are eligible to receive Hospice Care. Hospice is NOT limited to cancer patients. Any person who is suffering from a life-limiting condition doe to illness, accident or aging can receive Hospice Care. To determine eligibility, the hospice team will evaluate the patient using criteria based on guidelines from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization Eligibility requires: The patient and family choose Hospice Care – comfort and treatment of symptoms rather that curative treatment. The patients physician and Hospice Medical Director use their best judgment to certify that the patient is terminally ill and if the disease process runs its normal course, the patient has a life expectancy of 6 months or less. The patient and family enroll in a Medicare approved Hospice Program.
