Hospice FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
About End-of-Life Care
There can be a lot of questions and concerns about hospice. We believe open communication can alleviate a lot of the unknowns and fears surrounding this stage of life. Below are answers to some of the most common questions asked to give you a better understanding of what hospice care is and will mean for a patient, family and physicians.
For Patients and Caregivers
What is Hospice Care?
Hospice care is a service for individuals with serious or terminal illness who choose not to continue curative treatment. Hospice aims to provide comfort and help improve quality of life for the patient nearing death. By focusing on pain relief and symptom management, it give patients and their loved ones more meaningful time together.
Who is Eligible for Hospice Care?
A patient is eligible to receive hospice services when their illness is terminal, meaning a physician has determined there is a life expectancy of six months or less.
How Will a Patient Pay for Hospice Care Services?
Hospice care is typically covered in full by Medicaid Part A with or without private insurance. There may be copay or out of pocket expenses for treatments or medication that is not in the scope of hospice care, such as blood pressure medication or insulin. We can work with your current primary care physician (PCP) and other clinicians to determine any outside costs.
Is Hospice Covered by Medicare or Insurance?
Yes, hospice care is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, Veteran’s Affairs (Tricare) and most private health insurance carriers. If you do not have an insurance provider, please contact us directly about our options and coverage that may be at no cost to you.
Who Decides Whether I Go on Hospice?
Anyone can request a hospice evaluation including a patient, family member or a physician. Upon an evaluation, hospice care services legally requires two physician signatures to move forward, and we can help facilitate. Please contact us here.
What Happens First?
Once a referral has been made, we will schedule an appointment to meet with the patient and their family. Our physician will evaluate the patient, answer the family’s questions and create a plan of care that aligns with the patient and family’s wishes.
How Do You Help Patients Manage Pain?
Different diagnoses require specific pain management treatments. Our team is specifically trained to understand, identify and classify different classes of pain to prescribe the right medication, in the effort of improving their quality of life.
Will I Need to Make Changes at Home or Have Special Medical Equipment?
Yes, and we will help you. As part of hospice care services, we can provide a bed, wheelchair, oxygen and any other equipment, supplies and/or medication a patient will require. Our team will help determine what items are needed and make arrangements for them to be delivered to your home, ensuring your home is set up to provide the best care.
Will My Doctor Still Be Involved in My Care?
Yes, it is up to you and your referring physician if they want to remain involved in your care after transitioning to hospice. However, we work closely with every physician to keep them informed about their patient’s well-being.
Are Hospice Care Providers Inspected and Regulated?
Hospice care providers must be licensed as a Home and Community Support Services Agency (HCSSA) and have a contract with the Texas Health and Human Service Commission to provide Medicaid hospice service. There are rules regarding minimum licensing standards for a HCSSA that can be found here.
Are Hospice Care Providers Certified?
While hospice care providers do not require accreditation, we believe raising the standard of ethical practices in hospice care is of great importance. That’s why we are CHAP certified. Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP) is an independent, non-profit accrediting organization for home and community-based healthcare organizations. Our certification demonstrates our commitment to meeting the hospice industry’s highest standards for quality and compliance.
What Happens After My Loved One Passes On?
As part of hospice care services, we will have already prepared a plan for this time. While our team strives to be present for every passing, if we are not, a member of our team will arrive as soon as we are notified. A hospice nurse will make a visit and pronounce the patient, make all the necessary phone calls to make arrangements with a funeral home and prepare the patient’s body. We will still be there to support our families after their loved ones have passed with bereavement services and counseling if it is desired.
Who is on the Hospice Team? Who is Responsible for Care?
Generally a hospice care team includes a physician, nurse, hospice aide, social worker, chaplain/spiritual leader, bereavement specialist and volunteer. We consider the patient, their family and the referring physician as part of our team as well. Together, we work collaboratively to provide care and make sure pain and symptoms are under control. A routine visit will usually consist of a nurse or aide as well as visits from other members of our team when it’s necessary.
How Often Does the Nurse or Doctor Visit?
We will create a plan of care with the patient and family’s input, designed to meet the patient’s individual needs. The frequency of visits by the doctor, nurse and other members of our hospice team will be determined by evaluation.
Will Hospice Care for My Loved One 24/7? Will I Still Need to Take Care of Him?
A member of our team will not be in home 24/7. While care is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the frequency and level of care may vary. We respect our patients’ autonomy and want to give them the freedom to have the space and time they need privately with their loved ones. We will work with your to create a plan of care that adapts to changing needs and priorities as our time together progresses.
Does Someone Need to Be with My Loved One at All Times?
No, it is not necessary for someone to be with a patient all of the time. However, we recommend continuous monitoring and end-of-life care in the later stages of hospice.
What Do I Do If There’s an Accident at Home (Slip/Fall)?
Please contact us immediately. If it is an emergency unrelated to the hospice diagnosis, our team can call 911 and inform EMS that the patient they are about to receive is under hospice care so they will not attempt to treat your loved one’s hospice symptoms. If a hospital or urgent care is misinformed and treats hospice-related symptoms, that could potentially revoke hospice care eligibility and those costs will not be covered by Medicare or other insurance.
Does Hospice Make Death Come Sooner?
Absolutely not. The philosophy of hospice care is to keep the patient as comfortable and independent as they wish during the natural course of a terminal illness. Hospice does not hasten or prolong the end-of-life process but offers comfort care and support to patients and their families.
What Do I Do If My Loved One is in Pain and You’re Not Here?
Please call us. We are available 24/7 and can have a member of our team come to your home to evaluate your loved one and adjust any medication or end-of-life support to make them more comfortable.
Have More Questions For Our Team?
If you have additional questions that were not answered above, please reach out to us directly. At Sacred Mission, we understand that navigating hospice care can be overwhelming, and we are here to help you.
