Schneck Hospice Services

Schneck Medical Center Hospice provides:

• Free nursing evaluation
• Skilled nursing care (infusion therapy, pain management, symptom management, case management)
• 24 hour on-call nursing support
• Hospice Aides (bathing, personal care)
• Therapy services (physical, occupational, and speech therapy)
• Individual and family counseling (short-term individual and family support with a focus on assessment and referral if needed)
• Social work services (home needs assessment, community referrals, assistance with funeral planning, and psychosocial plan of care)
• Pastoral and spiritual care
• Volunteer support (companionship, respite for caregiver)
• Bereavement support for loved ones (Memorial services, resources, support groups/Grief Share)
• Pharmacy support
  

Hospice services are available to everyone, regardless of ability to pay. Medicare and most private insurance policies reimburse services. Patients who choose the Hospice Medicare Benefit will have all needs relative to the terminal illness covered with no deductibles or co-insurance participation. The attending physician continues to bill as usual.

Who is eligible for Medicare Hospice Benefits?

Hospice care is covered under Medicare Part A (hospital insurance).

Learn more at the Medicare benefits here.

What is not covered?

Treatment to cure your terminal illness is not a covered service. As a hospice patient, you will receive comfort care to help you cope with your illness, not cure it. Comfort care includes medications for symptom control and pain relief, physical care, counseling and other hospice services. Hospice uses medicine, equipment, and supplies to make you as comfortable and pain-free as possible. You should talk to your doctor if you are thinking about potential treatment to cure your illness. As a hospice patient, you will always have the right to stop hospice care and go back to your regular doctor or health plan.

Can I keep my Medicare health plan?

Yes. You should use your Medicare health plan to get care for any health problems that are not related to your terminal illness. You may be able to get this care from your primary care physician or from the hospice doctor. When you use your Medicare health plan, you must pay the deductible and coinsurance amounts (if you have the original Medicare plan), or the co-payment deductibles per your plan. For more information about Medicare health plans, including deductibles, coinsurance, and co-payments, look in your Medicare & You handbook. If you do not have the Medicare handbook, you can get a free copy by calling (800) 633-4227 (800) MEDICARE.

Your doctor and the hospice will work with you and your family to set up a plan of care that meets your needs. The plan of care includes the hospice services you need that are covered by Medicare.

The care that the hospice gives you is meant to help you retain quality of life by giving you comfort and relief from pain. The focus is on care, not cure.

You can receive hospice care as long as your doctor certifies that you are terminally ill and probably have less than six months to live. Even if you live longer than six months, you can receive hospice care as long as your doctor recertifies that you are terminally ill.

Referrals and questions about our hospice may be made by contacting the Hospice Care Coordinator. A physician referral is required.