Charges and Billing:
We receive reimbursement for our services from Medicare, Medicaid, and private health insurance. Most medical insurance plans include a hospice benefit or are willing to negotiate a per day rate or make another arrangement. Our hospice office will contact your insurance company to determine your hospice benefits for the services related to your terminal illness diagnosis.
Patients will only receive a bill when their insurance plan has indicated that there are co-payments, deductibles, other out-of-pocket expenses or benefits are exhausted. Theses charges will be explained before services are provided.
All third-party-payers are billed for hospice services as appropriate. In most cases, your insurance company will pay hospice directly. Medicare or Medicaid patients will not be refused care or have their hospice care discontinued or reduced due to their inability to pay for that care. Our social workers will meet with patients/family to determine concerns and needs. Any change to this policy will be communicated in writing to our hospice patients. Please call our office if you have questions about charges or insurance billing.
The Medicare Hospice Benefit
Medicare will reimburse the cost of hospice care under your Medicare Hospital Insurance (Part A). When all requirements are met the Medicare Hospice benefit will provide the following:
Physician services
Nursing Care
Medical applications and supplies
Medications for symptoms management and pain relief of terminal illness
Respite Care for up to 5 days for caregivers in a six month interval
Short-term inpatient care for pain and symptom control
Hospice aide/homemaker services
Spiritual counseling
Bereavement counseling
Medical social services
Dietary and other counseling
The Medicare Hospice Benefit does not cover the following services:
Treatment for the terminal illness that is not part of the hospice plan of care
Care provided by another hospice company that was not arranged by the patient's hospice
Ambulance transportation not included in the hospice plan of care.
Medications that are not related to pain and symptom control of the terminal illness
Visits to the emergency department or admission to the hospital related to the terminal diagnosis that are not part of the hospice plan of care, without prior approval or arrangements
Inpatient Care at non-contracted facilities
Sitter Services/hired caregivers
Lab studies, medical testing and/or any treatments not included in the hospice plan of care
Room and board