Medicare Hospice Benefit Information

Medicare will reimburse the cost of hospice care under your Medicare Hospital Insurance (Part A). When all requirements are met Medicare will cover the following:

 

Services Covered Under the Medicare Hospice Benefit*

  • Physician services

  • Nursing care

  • Medical appliances and supplies

  • Medications for symptom management and pain relief of the terminal illness and related conditions (must be pre-approved by hospice)

  • Short-term inpatient care for pain and symptom control

  • Hospice aide/homemaker

  • Spiritual counseling

  • Bereavement counseling

  • Physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy

  • Medical social services

  • Dietary counseling

  • Volunteer services

  • Short-term respite care

*If included in the plan of care.

 

Services Not Covered Under the Medicare Hospice Benefit

  • Treatment for terminal illness which is not for palliative symptom management and is not within the hospice plan of care

  • Care provided by another hospice that was not arranged by the patient’s hospice

  • Ambulance transportation not included in the plan of care

  • Medications that are not related to the terminal illness

  • Visits to the emergency department without the prior approval or arrangements by hospice

  • Inpatient care at non-contracted facilities

  • Sitter services/hired caregivers

  • Admission to the hospital without the prior approval or arrangements by hospice

  • Lab studies, medical testing, and/or any treatments not indicated