FAQ

Hospice care may be considered when efforts to cure a serious illness are no longer effective or when the burdens of treatment outweigh the expected benefits. For individuals in the later stages of a serious or terminal illness, hospice focuses on comfort, pain and symptom management, and quality of life.

Because hospice care focuses on comfort rather than curing the underlying terminal illness, treatments and prescriptions intended primarily to cure that illness are generally not provided as part of hospice care. The hospice team can explain which services, medications, and treatments are appropriate under the patient’s plan of care.

Yes. Patients have the right to choose whether to continue hospice care and may leave hospice at any time. If a patient chooses to discontinue hospice and pursue other medical treatment, hospice care can be discontinued and may be resumed later if the patient meets hospice eligibility requirements.

Hospice nurses and doctors focus on pain control and symptom management as part of the patient’s plan of care. They can discuss the patient’s comfort needs, monitor symptoms, and help determine appropriate medication and other measures for managing pain.

No. Hospice patients do not have to be bedridden or completely homebound to receive hospice care. Eligibility and care needs are evaluated based on the patient’s medical condition and hospice plan of care.

Hospice care is intended to provide comfort and symptom management rather than curative treatment for the terminal illness. If a patient chooses to receive hospital treatment related to the terminal illness, hospice care may need to be discontinued or otherwise addressed with the hospice provider, depending on the circumstances and coverage requirements.

Yes. Hospice care is not automatically limited to six months. If the patient continues to meet hospice eligibility requirements, the attending or hospice physician can recertify the patient for continued hospice care according to applicable requirements.