Hospice provides care and assistance to terminally ill people. It emphasizes comfort rather than curing a problem and gives people the best quality of life. Unlike medical treatment, it addresses “whole person” requirements and helps family caregivers.
Hospice care is usually offered at home, but respite care and urgent care are available to inpatients as well. Nursing home residents can receive hospice. Physical treatment, medications, supplies, and equipment are included.
Hospice care provides comfort, support, and dignity in the final six months of life. This care addresses your physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs so you may concentrate on what’s important.
Hospice provides full medical services for seriously ill people. It helps caregivers and families. Despite its benefits, some older people think hospice is too expensive. Many have no out-of-pocket costs.
How is hospice paid for? Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurers cover hospice care. Uninsured people have choices. Discover hospice payment options.
What Is Inpatient Hospice Care?
In hospice care, you or your loved one may suffer severe, unrelieved symptoms. Hospice staff manage these symptoms at home. These symptoms include pain, shortness of breath, nausea, and severe anxiety. Hospice professionals will change medications and other therapies with you, your family, and your doctor to relieve these symptoms.
Sometimes home remedies don’t help with these symptoms. If these symptoms don’t improve after 24–48 hours, the hospice nurse may transfer you or your loved one to an inpatient center to treat them faster.
Inpatient hospice care is usually needed when the family needs respite or when a crisis necessitates symptom care that your family cannot provide at home.
When transferring from the hospital to home, inpatient hospice care may be best. The patient would only stay in the inpatient setup until hospice care was set up at home. Hospice care can continue in the home after the patient moves in. However, they don’t stay inpatient.
Pain & Symptom Management
In cases of severe pain and symptoms, your doctor or hospice nurse may recommend inpatient hospice care. Inpatient hospice care is usually delivered at an inpatient hospice facility like Melodia Hospice Care.
Who Covers End-Of-Life Inpatient Care?
As you know, Medicare covers many medical services. These medical services include hospice care, including inpatient care.
Who Qualifies for Inpatient Hospice Care?
Inpatient hospice is needed for:
- Rapid decline needing intense nursing
- Unmanaged pain
- Vomiting uncontrollably
- Pathological fractures
- Unmanageable respiratory distress
- Intravenous medicines for symptom alleviation
- Complex or frequent dressing changes that cannot be done at home.
- Uncontrollable restlessness that demands intensive intervention
- Uncontrolled seizures
- Minor operations like paracentesis or placing a permanent drain or tube can help the patient feel better.
Does Medicare Cover Inpatient Hospice?
The Medicare Hospice Benefit covers all hospice services in the hospice plan of care, including a team of professionals—physicians, nurses, social workers/bereavement counselors, spiritual support counselors, certified home health aides—medication, equipment, supplies, and inpatient services. If needed, you may have to pay a small copayment.
Medicare covers four hospice levels, including inpatient hospice. For qualifying patients, Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) or Part C (Medicare Advantage Plans) covers inpatient hospice care who meets the following conditions:
- Your doctor and hospice medical professional suggest that you may have six months or fewer to live.
- Instead of curing your terminal condition, you choose hospice care.
- You sign a statement choosing hospice care above other Medicare-covered services for your terminal illness and associated conditions.
Medicare Covers Inpatient Hospice Care for How Long?
Medicare covers inpatient hospice care for severe hospice-related pain. To return home, inpatient hospice care treats symptoms.
Where Does Hospice Inpatient Care Occur?
Inpatient care is provided in a 24/7 clinical facility, such as a hospital, nursing home, or hospice house.
Acute-care facilities and inpatient hospices have very different atmospheres. Hospice inpatients are quieter and more homelike. Staff take time to chat with patients and their families and answer questions.
All ages of family and friends are welcome day and night, and overnight stays can be arranged. However, intensive pain and symptom management are underway to stabilize the patient for home hospice care.
Hospice inpatient staff:
- Evaluates symptoms
- Manages symptoms intensively
- 24/7 care and regular visits
The team manages and controls the patient’s symptoms for days, allowing the patient to return home.
What Inpatient Hospice Services Does Medicare Cover?
The Medicare Hospice Benefit covers the inpatient hospice stay for you or your loved one, including prescriptions, supplies, equipment, and visits by a team of experts. This team includes a doctor, nurse, social worker, spiritual support counselor, licensed home health aide, and volunteer.
How Long Can You Stay in an Inpatient Hospice?
Inpatient hospice care often lasts six months or less. Inpatient hospice care is usually temporary. Many families worry about finances as well as their sick loved ones. Your provider can clarify your coverage and answer questions. In most circumstances, inpatient hospice is unnecessary. Hospice care at home is possible for most families.
What Are Medicare’s Inpatient Hospice Coverage Requirements?
Medicare covers hospice inpatient care as follows:
- You have a six-month life expectancy, according to your doctor.
- Instead of curative treatment, you choose comfort care.
- You have severe pain and symptoms that should be addressed in an inpatient facility.
Any Medicare or Inpatient Hospice Care Questions?
Call 1-888-635-6347 with inquiries regarding hospice care, Medicare, or inpatient hospice care.
