nurse walking with patient in the gardenTerminal Illness

In order for a recipient to qualify for and be admitted to hospice services, the patient must first have been diagnosed with a terminal illness. A physician must certify that the patient’s prognosis is six months or less if the disease runs its natural course for hospice admission to be made.

Common Terminal Illnesses

  • End-stage cardiopulmonary conditions
    • End-stage heart disease
    • End-stage lung disease
  • End-stage liver disease
  • End-stage renal disease
  • Cancer (all types)
  • Neurological conditions
    • Stroke/CVA
    • ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease)
  • End-stage HIV/AIDS
  • End-stage dementia
  • End-stage Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Other disorders/diagnoses (call us for details)

There are various end-stage diseases that are considered terminal in nature, though they may not be listed above. For any questions regarding a diagnosis that may qualify for hospice services, please contact our office at 985.651.9733, or contact your physician for additional information regarding the specific disease or illness.

The hospice benefit will continue to cover palliative and comfort care for an individual with a terminal illness for the following periods:

  • Initial 90-day period
  • Subsequent 90-day period
  • Indefinite subsequent 60-day periods

We view each case individually and will re-evaluate each patient at 60-90 day intervals to determine continued eligibility for hospice.

Medicare, Medicaid, managed care programs and commercial insurance programs provide coverage for hospice care.

Medicare

Most of our patients are eligible for Medicare coverage and our hospice agency accepts the Medicare hospice benefit as payment for 100% of a patient’s hospice care. We require no copayments for our services for Medicare recipients and all services rendered are at no expense to the patient or their family.

Medicare Hospice Benefit includes:

  • Physician services as it relates to the terminal illness
  • Regular home visits by a hospice nurse
  • Chaplain services for the patient and family
  • Hospice aide and homemaker services, such as dressing and bathing
  • Social work services and counseling services
  • Bereavement services
  • Medical equipment such as hospital bed, wheelchair, or oxygen
  • Medical supplies such as bandages or catheters
  • Medications to control symptoms and relieve pain or discomfort
  • Physical, speech and occupational therapy
  • Dietary counseling, as necessary
  • Short-term hospital care as it relates to the terminal illness
  • Short-term respite care for the family, as it relates to the terminal illness

Medicaid

The Medicaid hospice benefit also provides coverage of 100% of the charges associated with our hospice services. The services provided under the Medicaid hospice benefit plan are the same as the services provided for Medicare recipients.

Managed Care Programs/Commercial Insurance Programs

Some of these programs may offer limited hospice benefits, but our hospice agency will work with you and the insurance company to maximize the benefits available.