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The purpose of the hospice service is to provide for
the palliation or management of a recipient’s terminal illness and
related conditions. Under federal guidelines, the hospice benefit is
available to individuals who have been certified by a physician to be
terminally ill. An individual is considered to be terminally ill if
he/she has a medical prognosis that his or her life expectancy is 6
months or less. Individuals who meet these requirements can elect the
Medicaid hospice benefit.
The provision of hospice care is generally in the home to avoid an
institutional setting and to improve the individual’s quality of life
until he or she dies. However, individuals eligible for Medicaid may
choose to reside in a nursing facility and receive hospice care in that
setting.
In order to be covered, a plan of care must be established before
services are provided. The following are covered hospice services:
nursing care; medical social services; physicians’ services; counseling
services; home health aide; medical appliances and supplies, including
drugs and biologicals; and physical and occupational therapy. In
general, the services must be related to the palliation or management of
the recipient’s terminal illness, symptom control or to enable the
individual to maintain activities of daily living and basic functional
skills.
Additional services may be provided under the hospice benefit, subject
to special coverage requirements. Continuous home care may be provided
in a period of crisis. Short-term inpatient care is covered, as long as
it is provided in a participating hospice unit or a participating
hospital or nursing facility that meets hospice standards.
To obtain further information regarding the Maryland Medicaid Hospice
Program, please call or write us at:
Division of Nursing Services
Maryland Medicaid Hospice Program
201 W. Preston Street, Room 211
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 767-1448/1-877-4MD-DHMH x1448
e-mail:
Carolinab@dhmh.state.md.us
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