HospiceHospice provides appropriate skilled, compassionate care to patients and their families so that they receive the support, help and guidance they need to meet the challenges of serious illness. A personalized plan of care incorporating what is important to the patient and the caregiver is developed. It is sensitive to their needs and emphasizes quality of life, and assists patients to live as fully and comfortably as possible. The philosophy of care called hospice has been practiced in New York State for more than two decades. Hospice:
Hospice Medicare BenefitCoping with a terminal illness can be a difficult enough experience without having to worry about pain management, medication costs, and assistance with caregiving. Surprisingly, many Medicare beneficiaries are unaware that Medicare‘s all-inclusive Hospice Benefit is available to assist dying patients and their families with these issues at the end of life. Hospice care offers a team-oriented approach to medical care, pain management, and emotional and spiritual support tailored to the dying patient‘s needs and wishes. For patients who qualify, Medicare will pay for this kind of comprehensive end-of-life care delivered at home or in a hospice facility. The Medicare benefit includes many services not generally covered by Medicare and more than 90 percent of the more than 2,500 hospices in the United States are certified by Medicare.Medicare Hospice Benefit Information Choosing hospice care is a difficult decision. The information in the booklet and support from a doctor and trained hospice care team can help you choose the most appropriate health care options for someone who's terminally ill. This official government booklet for Medicare hospice benefits includes information about:
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