Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs 2018-07-31T19:49:09+00:00

FAQs About Hospice

A: Hospice is a benefit provided by Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurances, to improve the quality of care. The hospice benefit pays for the professional services of the team, needed equipment, supplies and medication related to the terminal diagnosis. This can be a cost savings for many patients

A: Typically, patients are responsible for room and board payments when electing hospice in a facility. If a patient is in a long-term care facility under Medicaid, Medicaid will continue to pay for room and board. If a patient is paying privately, she/he will continue to do so. If a patient is in a skilled facility for rehabilitation services covered by insurance or Medicare, hospice can not be provided at the same time. Often, patients complete their skilled benefit prior to electing hospice.

A: If a patient is hospice eligible, this would be an additional layer of support for the patient and the family. The facility remains the primary caregiver, providing all their typical services. The hospice team works with the facility team and provides more individualized attention and end of life care to the patent. For example, the RN will work with the facility to provide expertise when comfort and dignity are paramount. The social worker or spiritual care coordinator may provide additional support to the patient and caregiver.

A: You may keep your personal physician while under the care of hospice. Hospice reinforces the primary physician/patient relationship and considers this bond to be a high priority.

A: Once you have indicated a potential interest in the hospice benefit, a Gallagher Hospice representative will contact you to discuss the program and help determine your eligibility. Your physician will then be contacted to discuss your decision and receive authorization to begin providing the services that you have chosen. Finally, you will be asked to sign certain forms that are like the ones that you would sign before receiving any other special medical treatments or services. You should feel free to speak with your doctor, your minister, or a trusted friend when making this decision. You may also choose to contact us to learn more about our services and arrange a meeting in your home to further discuss the program.

A: Hospice believes that emotional and spiritual pain are just as real as physical pain. Hospice nurses and doctors use the latest and most effective medications and devices to treat all forms of pain and relieve symptoms. In addition, our dedicated social workers and counselors are available to assist family members and patients with a variety of support for coping with their illness.

A: Palliative home health care is symptom management for patients still seeking curative treatment. They can receive these services at any time during an illness. Hospice is also symptom management; however, these services occur when a patient has a life-limiting diagnosis of six months or less, and is no longer seeking curative treatment, but comfort. An important note to call out is that hospice includes palliative care, but not all palliative care is hospice. Gallagher Home Health Services, another company within the Gallagher Hospice family, has a Board Certified Palliative Care physician and team that can visit home health patients in need of palliative care. To learn more about Gallagher Home Health Palliative Care Services, visit: http://gallagherhomehealthservices.com.

A: Hospice is a benefit provided by Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurances, to improve the quality of care. The hospice benefit pays for the professional services of the team, needed equipment, supplies and medication related to the terminal diagnosis. This can be a cost savings for many patients.

A: Yes. If you don’t have insurance coverage, the hospice admissions staff will work with you to determine financial responsibility and self-payments, and to find out if you are eligible for other benefits that could help pay for services.

A: Typically, patients are responsible for room and board payments when electing hospice in a facility.     If a patient is in a long-term care facility under Medicaid, Medicaid will continue to pay for room and board. If a patient is paying privately, she/he will continue to do so. If a patient is in a skilled facility for rehabilitation services covered by insurance or Medicare, hospice cannot be provided at the same time. Often, patients complete their skilled benefit prior to electing hospice.

A: If a patient is hospice eligible, this would be an additional layer of support for the patient and the family. The facility remains the primary caregiver, providing all their typical services. The hospice team works with the facility team and provides more individualized attention and end of life care to the patient. For example, the RN will work with the facility to provide expertise when comfort and dignity are paramount. The social worker or spiritual care coordinator may also provide additional support to the patient and caregiver.

A: The plan of care is individualized to meet each patient’s needs. If special equipment (e.g., wheelchair, lift, etc.) or therapies (e.g., respiratory therapy, physical therapy, etc.) are needed, Gallagher Hospice offers these as part of its services. We address each patient and family’s individual needs.