Most people think of hospice care as an ‘in-home hospital.’ While some forms of hospice care can look like this, it is not always the case. There are some differences between hospice and standard home health care.
Hospice & Home Health Services: What’s the Difference?
The short answer is that Hospice is for patients with a terminal illness that are expected to live less than 6 months in care, while Home Health Care services can be issued for many reasons and longer lengths of time.
Hospice focuses primarily on quality-of-life services for the patient and the patient’s family. Unlike Hospice, Home healthcare services place more focus on helping patients regain function and general recovery plans.
Is Hospice Care Covered the Same Way as Home Health Service?
While a few services may overlap, general home health care services and hospice services are not covered the same way by Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance providers.
Hospice is 100% covered by Medicare A, Medicaid, and some private insurance plans. Hospice coverage includes medications, home medical equipment, and various other costs recommended by the doctor. Coverage for Home Health Care varies based on insurance plans or the degree of care Medicare/Medicaid deems necessary.
If you have specific questions about your insurance coverage for Home Health Care, calling your provider is recommended.
Hospice Services
Hospice coverage is made up of some services that generally will not cover general home healthcare needs. These services include:
In-home health care workers
Emotional & spiritual counseling
Short ‘respite’ hospital costs
Social work costs
Medication costs
Home medical equipment & supply costs
In-home physical & occupational therapy
Dietary & Nutrition counseling
These services are almost always hospice-specific as they are covered primarily to deal with end-of-life medical needs. The services provided are designed to help both the patient and the patient’s family & loved ones cope with end-of-life-related issues.
Charlin Hospice Services
At Charlin Health Services, we pride ourselves on honor, integrity, excellence, compassion, dignity, and trust. Our Interdisciplinary Hospice Team functions as a family unit to assist each patient and their loved ones during this journey of life. Each member of any Charlin Hospice team can be reached anytime seven days a week.
If you have any needs or questions about hospice care, health services, or other medical needs, please send us an email or give us a call.
