Hospice care is available to people of all ages, from infants to the elderly. It is covered by most health insurance plans including Medicare and Medicaid.  Patients must meet two criteria for admission to hospice:

• The patient has a life expectancy of six months or less, if the disease continues its normal course.
• Two physicians must assess and certify the appropriateness of hospice care for each patient.  This is typically the patient's physician and the hospice medical director. The six-month time period is simply a guideline for physicians. Hospices will provide care after six months if the patient continues to meet hospice eligibility criteria.
• The patient chooses to change the focus of treating the disease to receiving palliative care.
• Palliative care focuses on symptom control and pain management. Once a patient is free of pain and distressing symptoms, he/she can experience a better quality of life.  Patients have the energy to focus on what's important to them.
• At any time while receiving hospice, a patient may chose to "revoke" hospice and re-establish a plan to treat the disease.