Palliative care is a medical specialty. There are in fact doctors who are Palliative Care Specialists, just as someone would have an orthopedic doctor for bones and a heart specialist for issues dealing with the heart. Not all hospitals have Palliative Care. In fact I was appalled to learn with the death of my brother that a very respected Palm Springs Hospital does not. Palliative care means that the patient has reached a point in his or her illness or aging process that there is an acceptance and an understanding that death is close on the horizon, that there is no cure, and that further treatment may in fact not cure, but make the patient all the more miserable. At the point that Palliative care is asked for, comfort becomes the compass point aimed at. Whatever medications and care lead to comfort are rendered, but diagnostic testing that is invasive is no longer done. So for instance, were there symptoms of pneumonia, then xrays would be done; but mammograms, colonoscopies and so on would not be done. Palliative is not hospice care, but it is close on to hospice and is likely to lead to hospice care. You should be able to find the definitions of palliative care easily on search engines such as google and from your own doctor. Yes, it is paid for by medicare just as is any other care. Hospice is also almost always FULLY covered.
Not in all care is stopped. My mom had a feeding tube, even though it was removed and she no longer was using it, the GI doc still charged insurance including the day she passed.
Some parts of palliative care will be covered my Medicare. I checked Medicare's website and did not find mention of palliative care. Medicare will pay for hospice.
https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20170213.058723/full/
that confirms what I know or am learning the visiting nurse is coming
this week I will add more info when I can