Q: When are the hospice staff available for me?
A: Hospice provides help and support 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week
Q: Can I still receive aggressive curative treatment while on hospice?
A: No. Hospice focusing on comfort measures only when a cure is no longer an option. Hospice treats the person, not the disease
Q: Can I receive hospice if I live in a Borad and Care or Assisted Living Facility
A: Yes. Hospice care is provided wherever the patient may reside-in their home, nursing home, assisted living facility or board and care facility
Q: Who pays for the hospice benefit
A: Hospice is a Medicare, MediCal and private insurance paid for benefit. There are no co-pays or out of pocket expenses for the patient
Q: Who qualifies for hospice?
A: Anyone who has a terminal diagnosis with a life expectancy of 6 months or less if the disease runs its natural course
Q: How can I get admitted to hospice?
A: A referral from your doctor needs to be sent for a hospice evaluation. Hospice will send a registered nurse who will evaluate the patient. The hospice physician will determine if you meet criteria for admission
Q: Once I sign on to hospice can I come off of hospice?
A: Yes. Patients can sign a revocation at any time and be discharged off of hospice. Patients can also be discharged off of hospice for extended prognosis. Extended prognosis is then the patient improves and does not qualify any longer per the Medicare Regulations
Q: How long can I stay on hospice
A: Even though hospice is a Medicare paid benefit for individuals who have a terminal diagnosis and life expectancy of 6 months or less, that does not mean one can only receive hospice for 6 months. As long as the patient continues to qualify for hospice under the Medicare hospice requirements, the patient will be recertified by the hospice physician and can continue with hospice care.