Hospice care is reimbursed by Medicare and Medicaid. In addition, most insurance plans have a hospice benefit that pays for all or part of the cost of hospice care. In most circumstances, the hospice agency bills the insurance company directly.

The Medicare hospice benefit covers:

• The services of the hospice team.
• Medications related to the hospice diagnosis and those utilized to control pain and relieve other symptoms.
• Short-term respite care to provide caregiver relief.
• Short-term in-patient care to manage uncontrolled symptoms, if necessary.
• Medical supplies and equipment related to the hospice diagnosis.

The initial hospice benefit is for 90 days.  After 90 days, a Medicare hospice patient can be recertified for an additional 90 days and then an unlimited number of subsequent 60-day periods. Care can extend as long as the physician certifies that the patient continues to be eligible for hospice. For more information about Medicare/Medicaid, please visit www.medicare.gov.

Please note that treatment received for other (non-hospice related) medical problems will be billed to the patient or a secondary insurance.