The New York Times takes a look at some of the most important questions a patient will face:
3. How should I decide when to enroll in hospice care?
That’s
a decision that also should be made after talking to your doctor, as
well as your palliative care team and family. Once a patient enrolls in
hospice, which is covered as a special Medicare benefit, he or she
generally pays nothing, although there may be some co-payments required,
like those for medications. Patients in hospice, however, agree to
forgo treatment aimed at curing their illness. They can always choose to
stop hospice care, though, if their condition improves or if they
simply change their mind, Mr. Schumacher said.
The short article in the NY Times also addresses insurance coverage of hospice, and other pressing issues for patients and families.
At Blue Skies Hospice, our committed staff will do its best to advise and guide patients through the process, and in doing so, formulate a plan that works for the patient's preferences and priorities.
