Sondra - Medicare & Medicaid cover different types of care. Medicare is federal & hospice is a benefit which pays the hospice provider 100%. However on average, hospice will be limited to 2 -4 visits a week from hospice staff (which may not be a RN but an aide or CNA) for a few hours. For at home hospice, family is required to have caregivers that are there 24/7 for all other caregiving. Family or the elder is responsible for paying for those caregivers or family does for free.
For hospice in a facility, the room & board charges are NOT covered by Medicare. R&B are either private pay, LTC insurance or Medicaid. Again hospice comes to the facility, 2-4 times a week to provide care in tandem with nursing staff at the facility.
You have to qualify medically for hospice. Your MD will need to write orders for a hospice consult. The medical director of the hospice will evaluate (usually an RN does the on site review) and determine if hospice is appropriate. Hospice requires reevaluation for renewals too.
For hospice in a facility, the room & board charges are NOT covered by Medicare. R&B are either private pay, LTC insurance or Medicaid. Again hospice comes to the facility, 2-4 times a week to provide care in tandem with nursing staff at the facility.
You have to qualify medically for hospice. Your MD will need to write orders for a hospice consult. The medical director of the hospice will evaluate (usually an RN does the on site review) and determine if hospice is appropriate. Hospice requires reevaluation for renewals too.