Palliative Care - Questions and Answers
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
Palliative Care - Questions and Answers
Question: Who can receive this care?Palliative CareAnyone with a serious illness, regardless of life expectancy, can receive palliative care.
Hospice CareSomeone with an illness with a life expectancy measured in months not years.
Question: Can I continue to receive treatments to cure my illness?Palliative CareYou may receive palliative care and curative care at the same time.
Hospice CareTreatments and medicines aimed at relieving symptoms are provided by hospice.
Question: Does Medicare pay?Palliative CareSome treatments and medications may be covered.
Hospice CareMedicare pays all charges related to hospice.
Question: Does Medicaid pay?Palliative CareSome treatments and medications may be covered.
Hospice CareIn 47 states, Medicaid pays all charges related to hospice.
Question: Does private insurance pay?Palliative CareSome treatments and medications may be covered.
Hospice CareMost insurance plans have a hospice benefit.
Question: Is this a package deal?Palliative CareNo, there is no 'palliative care' package. The services are flexible and based on the patient's needs.
Hospice CareMedicare and Medicaid hospice benefits are package deals.
Question: How long can I receive care?Palliative CareThis will depend upon your care needs, and the coverage you have through Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance.
Hospice CareAs long as you meet the hospice's criteria of an illness with a life expectancy of months not years.
Question: What organization provides these services?Palliative Care- Hospitals
- Hospices
- Nursing Facilities
- Healthcare Clinics
Hospice Care- Hospice organizations
- Hospice programs based out of a hospital
- Other healthcare organizations
Question: Where are services provided?Palliative Care- Home
- Assisted living facility
- Nursing facility
- Hospital
Hospice Care- Usually, wherever the patient resides, in their home, assisted living facility, nursing facility, or hospital.
- Some hospices have facilities where people can live, like a hospice residence, or receive care for short-term reasons, such as acute pain or symptom management.
Question: Who provides these services?Palliative CareIt varies. However usually there is a team including doctors, nurses, social workers and chaplains, similar to the hospice team.
Hospice CareA team ? doctor, nurse, social worker, chaplain, volunteer, home health aide and others.
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