Intake appointment
Once we receive a referral for our home health or hospice services, you or your family will be contacted by a registered nurse and/or social worker to schedule an admit evaluation. This initial contact will be made within 24 hours if the initial referral is made Monday – Friday, and by the next business day if made on a weekend, and is a time for you and your family to learn about our services and what we can offer to help support you.
Review and planning
We do a complete review of your current health status and medical needs. We consult with your doctor and other providers, and talk in depth with you and your loved ones about your goals and desires.
Providing care
After this initial intake appointment, we identify which of our home health or hospice services will best help you, create your care plan in partnership with your doctor and make your follow-up appointments. The members of your MultiCare Home Health & Hospice team may include nurses, physical, speech and occupational therapists, specially trained social workers and home health aides.
Services are provided on a scheduled basis by appointment. You may have one or several appointments each week, depending on the home health or hospice care you need. We do not provide all-day nursing or health aide care, but if you or your loved one needs this level of support, we can help you find an appropriate service.
Insurance and payment
- Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance are billed directly
- Payments from individuals for services rendered are based on the ability to pay
- Financial assistance from MultiCare may be available for those who cannot pay for all or part of the essential care they receive
- Contributions and memorials are appreciated and allow us to provide care to patients of all ages, diagnoses or ability to pay
Understand your Medicare coverage
Medicare is a health insurance program for people 65 years of age and older, for some people younger than 65 who have disabilities and for people with long-term (chronic) kidney failure treated with dialysis or a transplant. Medicare is administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) of the United States government.
For more information, learn more through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) who manages the Medicare hospice benefit. You may call toll-free 800-633-4227 or visit the CMS website for more information.
-
What is the difference between Part A and B?
-
Part A, or hospital insurance. Part A benefits provide coverage for hospitals, nursing facilities, some home health care and hospice. People (including a spouse) who paid Medicare taxes while they were working are eligible for Part A benefits. A monthly payment or premium is not required for Part A benefits.
Part B, or medical insurance. Part B benefits pay for services not covered by part A, which would include care for any health problems that are not related to your terminal illness. Part B benefits are optional and are not paid from Medicare taxes; you must pay a monthly premium as well as deductible and/or copayment fees.
-
Am I eligible for hospice coverage through Medicare?
-
The Medicare hospice benefit provides coverage for services related to a life-limiting illness. Hospice care is covered under Medicare Part A benefits. You must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible for the Medicare hospice benefit:
- You must be eligible for Medicare Part A benefits.
- Your doctor and hospice medical director must certify you as having a life-limiting illness with a probable life-expectancy (prognosis) of less than six months to live.
- You must sign a statement that documents your intent to receive the Medicare hospice benefit. This means that you agree to receive services to maintain your comfort and control the symptoms of your life-limiting illness and are willing to stop treatments designed to prolong your life. However, your regular Medicare benefits will still cover services for any health problem that is not related to your life-limiting illness.
- You must receive care from a hospice approved by Medicare.
-
What hospice services are covered?
-
Medicare pays the hospice program a daily (per diem) rate that is intended to fully cover most services related to a life-limiting illness, including:
- Hospice nursing care in your home. This includes intermittent visits by a nurse to assess your symptoms. Nurses are also available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to visit if you need help. However, live-in nursing care is not covered.
- Medical supplies and equipment, such as a wheelchair, hospital bed or other supplies needed for wounds.
- Medications related to the terminal diagnosis for symptom control and pain relief.
- Visits to your doctor to help manage your life-limiting illness, if your primary care provider is a part of the care team.
- Intermittent home health aide services. However, the service of a live-in homemaker or home health aide is not covered.
- Physical, occupation or speech therapy, as well as dietary counseling, if needed because of your life-limiting illness.
- Visits from a counselor or social worker, as well as spiritual care, if desired.
- Visits from trained volunteers. Volunteers are available on a short-term basis to provide companionship, to help with your care or to run errands.
- Short-term care in a skilled facility (such as hospital or nursing home) to give temporary relief to your caregiver. This is called respite care; it is helpful if a family member, friend or hired caregiver needs a temporary break from the demands of caregiving (because of illness, for example). The hospice program can charge up to 5 percent of the daily skilled facility costs for respite care. You can stay for up to five days per each admission. There is no limit to the number of times you can receive respite care.
- Temporary inpatient care, if needed, to help manage symptoms that cannot be controlled at home.
- Counseling (called bereavement care) for your family, friends and caregivers following your death.
If your condition changes so that hospice is no longer appropriate, you can get your previous Medicare benefits at a later time if necessary.