Frequently Asked Questions

 Hospice is a program that provides care service and support for terminally ill patients with a life expectancy of 6 months (or less if the illness runs its normal course) and their families. Here are some important facts about hospice:

• Hospice helps people who are terminally ill to live comfortably until their last day of life comes 
• Hospice is not only for people with cancer
• The focus is on comfort (Palliative Care), not on curing an illness
• A specially trained team of professionals and caregivers provide holistic care focusing on mind, body, and spirit
• Services include physical care, counseling, drugs, equipment, and supplies for the terminal illness and related conditions
• Care is generally given in the patient's preferred setting: home, assisted living facility, boarding care, and skilled nursing facility
• Family caregivers also get support.

 If you have Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) AND meet all of these conditions, you can get hospice care: 

• Your hospice doctor and your primary physician (if you have one) certify that you are terminally ill and expected to live 6 months or less.
• You accept palliative care (for comfort) instead of care to cure your illness. 
• You sign a statement choosing hospice care instead of other Medicare-covered treatments for your terminal illness and related conditions. 

Note: Only your hospice doctor and your primary physician can certify that you are terminally ill and have 6 months or less to live

Nearly half of Americans say they would rely on family or friends to carry out their wishes about end-of-life care, but most have never expressed those wishes. Some would prefer all treatments that medical technology has to offer. Others would opt for a serene, pain-free death if their quality of life were seriously diminished by seeking aggressive treatment. There is no right or wrong. Every person has the right to make that decision.

Do you qualify for hospice? Answer our following questions to find out.

(1). Are you diagnosed with the following illness?

Hospice Eligible Diagnosis follows LCD (Local Coverage Determination) by National Government Services, including most chronic diseases. 

1. Heart Disease: CHF, A-fib, CAD, ASHD. 
2. Liver Disease: Liver cirrhosis, Liver Disease, Ascites. 
3. Pulmonary Disease: Severe  Chronic Lung disease: COPD, Pulmonary fibrosis. 
4. Neurological disease: ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis=Lou Gehrig’s Disease),  Parkinson’s disease, MG (Myasthenia Gravis), MS (Multiple Sclerosis). 
5. Renal failure: CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease)4, ESRD (end-stage renal disease).
6. Liver Disease: Liver cirrhosis, Liver Disease, Ascites. 
7. Stroke or coma: CVA. 
8. HIV/AIDs
9. Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia. 
10. All types of terminal Cancers

(2). Do you see any following declines in cognitive or physical function?

1. Frequent falls.
2. A decline in your activity of daily life and requiring increased assistance
3. Increased sleeping hours/Changed level of consciousness 
4. Weight loss due to poor appetite and poor meal consumption
5. Frequent hospitalization in the past 12 months, patients/families refuse further hospitalization. 
6. Worsening of anxiety, confusion, and mood change.
7. Worsening of the pain, and shortness of breath.
8. Advanced age with multiple progressive comorbidities. 

(3). Do you desire comfort care rather than aggressive/curative medical treatment?

If you answered yes to all three questions, please talk to your primary physician and call our hospice service at 818-824-3702 for further information. If you or a loved one has a serious illness, your doctor should welcome the chance to talk about your wishes concerning end-of-life care, including what hospice can do to help. (Some doctors might not allow you to go to hospice due to uncertainty of prognosis of illness or other reasons.)

(1). How does Your Hospice Benefit Work? 

If you qualify for hospice care, you and your family will work with your hospice provider to set up a care plan that meets your needs. For more specific information on a hospice plan of care, call your state hospice organization. Visit Medicare.gov/contacts, or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to find the number for your state hospice organization. TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048. You and your family members are part of a team that may also include: 

■ Doctors 

■ Nurses or nurse practitioners 

■ Counselors 

■ Social workers 

■ Pharmacists 

■ Physical and occupational therapists 

■ Speech-language pathologists 

■ Hospice aides 

■ Homemakers 

■ Volunteers

Also, a hospice nurse and doctor are on-call to support and care for you and your loved ones 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, whenever you need it. A hospice doctor is part of your medical team. You can also choose to include your regular doctor, a nurse practitioner, or a physician’s assistant on your medical team as the attending medical professional. The hospice benefit allows you and your family to stay together in the comfort of your home unless you need care in an inpatient facility. If your hospice provider decides you need inpatient hospice care, your hospice provider will make the arrangements for your stay. 

 Hospice benefits download (PDF). https://www.medicare.gov/Pubs/pdf/02154-medicare-hospice-benefits.pdf 

We ..  

● Committed to patients. All our patients/ families are our #1 priority in Eminent Hospice Inc. 

● Committed to providing culturally appropriate care for the patient by our specially trained / devoted hospice personnel. 

● Committed to excellence on Integration of care between hospice and the caregiver/ patient. 

● Committed to providing hospice trained staff with years of experience. 

● Committed to provide 24/7 on-call triage service by hospice nurse.

(1) Hospice can be referred by a Physician, Case manager or family members.

An Eminent intake coordinator will consult with the patient, their family or a legally designated decision-maker via phone or in-person and provide the patient and family with all the information about their care options, what hospice service entails and the responsibilities of the patient’s caregiver. Also this individual will consult the patient’s primary doctor to determine hospice eligibility. Primary care physician is going to release medical information to hospice as needed. This intake coordinator will schedule an RN evaluation visit with the patient, family members or decision makers.

(2) Hospice can happen anywhere. Hospice care extends to wherever a seriously ill patient calls home—a private residence, assisted living community or nursing home. Hospice team—physician, nurse, hospice aide, chaplain, social worker and volunteer—brings clinical, compassionate hospice services to patients where they live . [1] Surveys have shown that when faced with terminal illness, most people said they preferred to remain in their homes for care surrounded by the faces and things they know and love., continuing the routines that make them most comfortable. [2] Hospice team comes to the home to provide symptom management and render comfort care as well as personal care. The team also provides caregiver education along with emotional and spiritual support to the patient and their loved ones. [3] 

● Hospice is designed to treat patients where they are best suited to receive care: at home, for patients who live in an assisted living community or nursing home.

(3) Hospice requires following documentation upon Hospice admission.

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If you’re participating in an admissions consultation for yourself or for your loved one, be sure to prepare the following documentation on hand.

● Current medical coverage cards (including Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) card, private insurance, Medicaid/Medi-Cal, TRICARE, etc.)

● State-issued photo ID or passport

● Copies of any advance directives, including living will, Five Wishes, Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare and Do Not Resuscitate Order (when it is available, if it is not available, hospice will guide you how to obtain it).

● Information about medications and dosages

● A list of medical equipment the patient is using

● Contact information for any loved ones who should receive updates about the patient

(4) Hospice will start when the physician makes clinical determination that the patient has a life expectancy of six months or less, if the terminal illness runs its normal course and the patient meets the criteria of LCD eligibility. 

An evaluation RN will assess the patient’s medical condition and needs of family. Evaluation RN will report the patient’s conditions to the hospice IDT members, they will make an individualized plan of care and discuss it with the patient and patient’s family. The patient or decision maker must consent to receive palliative end-of-life care and cease curative treatment. Once the appropriate papers are signed and admissions orders received, the patient is officially admitted to hospice care.

Regular visits by individual members of the team: Nurse, MSW, Chaplain, Aide, volunteer are scheduled. Hospice team will educate the patient’s symptoms of terminal illness/ disease progression to contact the hospice team. Any necessary home medical equipment, supplies and medications are delivered.

(LCD eligibility should be mentioned on Medicare benefits).