Comments on: Is Hospice Care For You (or Anyone)? http://www.thecheckoutline.org/blog/is-hospice-care-for-you-or-anyone/ Advice for Dying and Death - When Sympathy Isnt Enough Tue, 22 May 2012 07:39:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Jeanne Frye, RN, CHPN http://www.thecheckoutline.org/blog/is-hospice-care-for-you-or-anyone/comment-page-1/#comment-6765 Jeanne Frye, RN, CHPN Fri, 15 May 2009 18:33:36 +0000 http://www.thecheckoutline.org/?p=633#comment-6765 Good advice, Judy. I would add that most areas, even rual areas are covered by an agency now a days. Hospice as a rule is for patients with a six month prognosis. Since none of us has the crystal ball handy, there are patients that stay on much longer. I would much rather have a referral on the "early" side then one that is so late in the process it is difficult to offer much help or support. My advice would be if you think you or someone you know may need hospice, call a local agency and get some general information. Good advice, Judy. I would add that most areas, even rual areas are covered by an agency now a days. Hospice as a rule is for patients with a six month prognosis. Since none of us has the crystal ball handy, there are patients that stay on much longer. I would much rather have a referral on the “early” side then one that is so late in the process it is difficult to offer much help or support. My advice would be if you think you or someone you know may need hospice, call a local agency and get some general information.

]]> By: Judy http://www.thecheckoutline.org/blog/is-hospice-care-for-you-or-anyone/comment-page-1/#comment-6662 Judy Thu, 14 May 2009 17:47:59 +0000 http://www.thecheckoutline.org/?p=633#comment-6662 As a matter of fact, a doctor does have to say that the individual is within six months of dying in order for a patient to be approved for hospice care under Medicare rules. It is absolutely true that doctors' estimates of an individual's longevity can be way off -- but Medicare and insurance companies need some estimate from the medical profession, however iffy the prognosis. If the medical estimates turn out to be on the pessimistic side, and the patient lives longer than expected, Medicare will continue to pay, and the hospice continue to treat. [WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The poster sent us '0 which is not a hashcash value. As a matter of fact, a doctor does have to say that the individual is within six months of dying in order for a patient to be approved for hospice care under Medicare rules. It is absolutely true that doctors’ estimates of an individual’s longevity can be way off — but Medicare and insurance companies need some estimate from the medical profession, however iffy the prognosis. If the medical estimates turn out to be on the pessimistic side, and the patient lives longer than expected, Medicare will continue to pay, and the hospice continue to treat.

[WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The poster sent us ‘0 which is not a hashcash value.

]]> By: Steve http://www.thecheckoutline.org/blog/is-hospice-care-for-you-or-anyone/comment-page-1/#comment-6650 Steve Thu, 14 May 2009 13:52:31 +0000 http://www.thecheckoutline.org/?p=633#comment-6650 Of all the questions and blogs you post, i think the information about hospice care is the most important. Anyone can have an opinion about wills or whom to tell about a sickness and when, and it is possible to disagree or agree on any position. But the straight facts you provide on this, and on the funeral industry, should be compulsory reading for everyone who has anything to do with death and dying. Meaning every living person. Keep up the good work! Of all the questions and blogs you post, i think the information about hospice care is the most important. Anyone can have an opinion about wills or whom to tell about a sickness and when, and it is possible to disagree or agree on any position. But the straight facts you provide on this, and on the funeral industry, should be compulsory reading for everyone who has anything to do with death and dying. Meaning every living person. Keep up the good work!

]]> By: Hans http://www.thecheckoutline.org/blog/is-hospice-care-for-you-or-anyone/comment-page-1/#comment-6636 Hans Thu, 14 May 2009 11:09:33 +0000 http://www.thecheckoutline.org/?p=633#comment-6636 You say that Medicare pays most of the costs, but how do you get their support? Do you have to have a doctor say that you are within 3 months of dying? THe stories I've been told by friends and in my own experience is that doctor estimates about when a person is likely to die or either much too optimistic or excessively pessimistic. Is this a reason to get a "second opinion" which will make one eligible? You say that Medicare pays most of the costs, but how do you get their support? Do you have to have a doctor say that you are within 3 months of dying?
THe stories I’ve been told by friends and in my own experience is that doctor estimates about when a person is likely to die or either much too optimistic or excessively pessimistic. Is this a reason to get a “second opinion” which will make one eligible?

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