TYPES OF HOSPICE DISCHARGES
Caring Like Family Hospice or the beneficiary can initiate a hospice discharge at any point during hospice enrolment for the following scenarios:
I. PATIENT (BENEFICIARY) INITIATED DISCHARGES:
- The patient revokes the hospice benefits: The patient/family has the right to revoke from hospice service at any point during care, by completing a hospice revocation form provided by Caring Like Family Hospice. (Blank copy is in every hospice patient’s home folder)
- The Patient transfers to another hospice: can be initiated by the beneficiary at any point during care. The patient/POA would be required to sign a transfer form with the new/receiving hospice.
- The patient moves out of the hospice’s service area: In a scenario where the patient moves to a service area that is not covered by Caring Like Family Hospice. This would also include a situation in which per patient is transferred to the hospital for whatever reasons and gets admitted.
II. HOSPICE INITIATED DISCHARGES:
Hospice can discharge patients from hsopice at any point during hospice care for the following reasons, including:
- Extended Prognosis: The hospice determines that the patient is no longer terminally ill. This could happen when the patient’s condition improves or stabilizes, and they outlive their 6-month prognosis.
- Discharge for cause (RARE): The hospice discharges the beneficiary citing that the beneficiary’s (or other persons in the patient’s home) behavior is disruptive, abusive, or uncooperative to the extent that delivery of care to the patient or the ability of the hospice to operate effectively is seriously impaired.
Please note that a discharged patient can enroll back into hospice at any time as long as a physician re-certifies their hospice eligibility.