Understanding Hospice
For 25 years, hospice has been a fully covered benefit under Medicare. Hospice is also covered by Medicaid, most private insurance plans, HMOs and other managed care organizations.
Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is Hospice?
  2. When to Discuss Hospice?
  3. Why Discuss Hospice?
  4. How to Discuss Hospice?
  5. Who Pays for Hospice?
  6. How do you know you have the right Hospice?
  1. Q: What is Hospice?

     A: Hospice is not a place, but a philosophical approach to caring for patients and their families who are dealing with end-of-life issues. It is a model of care that offers pain and symptom control, dignity and spiritual and emotional care for both patients and their loved ones when a cure is not possible. Palliative care programs work to bring these compassionate services to patients earlier in the course of an illness.

    At Hospice Care Network we care for the physical, emotional social and spiritual well being of our patients and their families through an interdisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, social workers, nutritionists, pastoral care counselors, bereavement counselors and trained volunteers.

     

  2. Q: When to Discuss Hospice?

     A: Very often patients and families tell us, “We wish we’d entered the hospice program sooner.” A common misconception is that hospice care is only for the last few days of life. In fact, patients and families can benefit most when they have hospice for the final weeks or months of life. Hospice is beneficial for anyone of any age, with any life-limiting disease. Medicare, Medicaid and most insurance plans provide coverage for hospice care when physicians predict that a patient has six months, or less, to live, and curative treatment is no longer an option. The six-month prognosis can be difficult to determine. If there is any question, the Hospice Medical Director can speak with your doctor and/or evaluate the patient directly. Hospice re-evaluates patients every 60 days. As long as their condition continues to decline, and the Medical Director feels that the patient’s prognosis is six months, they are re-certified for hospice coverage for as long as they live.

    Some signs that a person may be ready for hospice care:
    • Increased pain, nausea, breathing distress, or other symptoms
    • Repeated hospitalizations or trips to the ER
    • Failure to “bounce back” after medical set-backs
    • Increasing assistance needed for walking, eating, bathing, dressing and/or going to the toilet
    • Decreasing alertness – emotionally withdrawn, sleeping more, having increased difficulty with comprehension

     

  3. Q: Why Discuss Hospice?

    A: When faced with illness for which cure is not possible, patients and their families often experience fear and frustration. Though hospice care is not curative treatment, it is serious medicine providing pain control and symptom management, as well as emotional and spiritual support for the entire family. When a patient chooses hospice care, they are not giving up – but, they are taking control – choosing quality of life. Hospice allows them to choose how, and with whom they will spend the remainder of their lives.


  4. Q: How to Discuss Hospice?

     A: When faced with an illness for which a cure is not possible, patients as well as their families may experience fear, frustration, anger and confusion. Though they may feel that hospice would be a positive end-of-life option, they often find it difficult to initiate such a discussion with family members, physicians or hospital personnel. Here are some thoughts to share when discussing common family concerns:

    • Hospice is a very positive option for someone who is terminally ill. Hospice Care Network provides highly specialized, state-of-the-art care. It is not curative treatment, yet it is serious medicine that provides unmatched pain and symptom relief, as well as emotional and spiritual support for the entire family.

    • When patients choose hospice care, they are not giving up – they are taking control. Hospice enables them to decide exactly how, where and with whom they will spend the rest of their lives. Most patients find hospice care to be a liberating experience.

    • Help the patient understand that the greatest gift they can give their family is the ability to spend quality time with each other. Most patients don’t want their caregivers to be excessively burdened by their illness. Hospice Care Network supports the entire family to ease the physical and emotional challenges so they will be available to focus on important end-of-life issues.

    • If a patient decides to stop aggressive, curative treatment, it is their choice. Patients who have been through extensive treatment or repeated hospitalizations frequently become so physically weary that they choose not to continue curative care. They will be welcomed into the hospice program at whatever point they decide to have palliative care. There are treatments that are palliative in nature that help enhance the patient’s quality of life. If uncertain about a treatment that is being received, do not hesitate to call. Our medical director will work with your physician to ensure that your treatments are the most effective for you.

    • The patient has not been told they have a terminal disease, and will die soon – can the concept of hospice be introduced? Hospice Care Network has extensive experience in talking with patients anywhere, any time, to discuss their health status and needs, learn their personal feelings and desires, and introduce the concept of hospice. These conversations usually go more smoothly than families expect, and are often welcomed by the patient.

    • If the patient’s physician hasn’t mentioned hospice and you feel this may be a good option, you can mention it to the physician. Some physicians hesitate to talk about hospice because they don’t want to destroy hope. However, they may actually be relieved if you broach the subject. Talk with the doctor about the benefits of curative treatment vs. palliative (comfort) care, and discuss your expectations for preserving quality of life. If you are hesitant to speak with the physician directly, Hospice Care Network can help with that communication.

    • If the patient is in the hospital and you feel hospice might be beneficial, speak with the social workers or discharge planners, who will know about the many services provided by Hospice Care Network, and can facilitate a referral to our program, or you may call yourself
     

    .

  5. Q: Who Pays for Hospice?

     A: When a patient qualifies medically for hospice, Medicare, Medicaid and many private insurance policies have hospice benefits. Special funds are put aside for military veterans. People can choose to pay privately, or in some cases, Hospice Care Network bills on an “ability to pay” basis, or pro bono care. Since some pay nothing or very little, contributions are utilized to offset expenses. No patient is refused service based on inability to pay.
  6. Q: How do you know you have the right Hospice?

    A: Hospice Care Network is known as the leader in hospice care for the Long Island region, with nearly 20 years of experience. One of the largest hospices in the downstate area, our nurses and social workers are specialists in end-of-life care because we focus exclusively on hospice services.

    Our hospice is committed to the highest quality care and is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations as meeting the highest standards expected in the field. Because we are associated with more hospitals than any other local hospice, we can provide temporary care to patients in a convenient hospital setting, if necessary.

    In addition, we maintain close relationships with the Hospice and Palliative Care Association of New York State and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, keeping current with the latest developments in end-of-life care.


    Click here to return to home page

 

My family and I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to each and everyone of the wonderful people who cared for my husband.  He was always treated with devoted and kind hands and was made as comfortable and pain free as possible.