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