http://www.bloggernews.net/115482 High-quality English language analysis and editorial writing on the news. Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:40:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 http://www.bloggernews.net/115482#comment-325626 lima_charlie Tue, 06 May 2008 18:43:40 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/115482#comment-325626 A very nice article about Hospice. However, you are continuing to fuel the myth that Hospice care is only available for 6 months. As a Community Educator for a large Hospice in Southern California, this statement is simply not true. Reality is that a patient is appropriate for Hospice care IF the life expectancy of their Hospice qualifying terminal diagnosis is six months or less. Obviously it is impossible for medical professionals to pinpoint the exact moment of death! When a patient is admitted to Hospice services, there is an initial 90 day certification period, followed by another 90 day if the Hospice team, the Hospice Medical director, and the patient's physician feel the patient is still terminal. After 6 months, the certifications must happen every 60 days-a Hospice must have documentation of decline to support the patient's terminal illness. Hospice care is much more cost effective for insurance companies than the cost of actual hospitalization. While there are instances of Medicare fraud (see Odyssey Healthcare, 2006), as long as the documentation supports the terminal illness, patients and families may reap the benefits and support of hospice care for as long as necessary-quite possibly exceeding your reference to a "six-month limit." A very nice article about Hospice. However, you are continuing to fuel the myth that Hospice care is only available for 6 months. As a Community Educator for a large Hospice in Southern California, this statement is simply not true.
Reality is that a patient is appropriate for Hospice care IF the life expectancy of their Hospice qualifying terminal diagnosis is six months or less. Obviously it is impossible for medical professionals to pinpoint the exact moment of death!
When a patient is admitted to Hospice services, there is an initial 90 day certification period, followed by another 90 day if the Hospice team, the Hospice Medical director, and the patient’s physician feel the patient is still terminal. After 6 months, the certifications must happen every 60 days-a Hospice must have documentation of decline to support the patient’s terminal illness.
Hospice care is much more cost effective for insurance companies than the cost of actual hospitalization. While there are instances of Medicare fraud (see Odyssey Healthcare, 2006), as long as the documentation supports the terminal illness, patients and families may reap the benefits and support of hospice care for as long as necessary-quite possibly exceeding your reference to a “six-month limit.”

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