Admissions

In order for a recipient to qualify for and be admitted to hospice services, the patient must first have been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Terminal Illness is a medical prognosis of limited expected survival of approximately six (6) months or less if the disease runs its natural course.

Common Terminal Illnesses:

Cancer (any type)
End Stage Liver Disease
End Stage Renal Disease
End Stage Heart Disease
End Stage Neurological Diseases
End Stage Pulmonary Disease
Adult Failure to Thrive
End Stage AIDS/HIV
End Stage Alzheimer’s Disease
End Stage Dementia

There are various end stage diseases that are considered terminal in nature, though they may not be listed above. For any questions regarding a diagnosis that may qualify for the hospice services, please contact our office at 225-291-9421 or contact your physician for additional information regarding the specific disease or illness.

The hospice benefit will continue to cover palliative and comfort care for an individual with a terminal illness for the following periods:

Initial 90-day period, and
Subsequent 90-day period, and
Indefinite subsequent 60 day periods

We view each case individually and will re-evaluate each patient at 60-90 day intervals to determine continued eligibility for hospice.

Medicare, Medicaid, managed care programs and commercial insurance programs provide coverage for hospice care.

Medicare

Most of our patients are eligible for Medicare coverage and our hospice agency accepts the Medicare hospice benefit as payment for 100% of a patient’s hospice care. We require no co-payments for our services for Medicare recipients and all services rendered are at no expense to the patient or their family.

Medicare Hospice Benefit includes:

Physician services as it relates to the terminal illness
Regular home visits by a hospice nurse
Chaplain services for the patient and family
Hospice aide and homemaker services, such as dressing and bathing
Social work services and counseling services
Bereavement services
Medical equipment (DME) such as hospital bed, wheelchair, or oxygen
Medical supplies such as bandages or catheters
Medications to control symptoms and relieve pain or discomfort
Physical, speech and occupational therapy
Dietary counseling, as necessary
Short-term hospital care as it relates to the terminal illness
Short-term respite care for the family, as it relates to the terminal illness

Medicaid

The Medicaid hospice benefit also provides coverage of 100% of the charges associated with our hospice services. The services provided under the Medicaid hospice benefit plan are the same as the services provided for Medicare recipients.

Managed Care Programs/Commercial Insurance Programs

Some of these programs may offer limited hospice benefits, but our hospice agency will work with you and the insurance company to maximize the benefits available.