Hospice of Baltimore waives the co-payments on medications and inpatient respite care. Education and counseling for family members is covered. Volunteers are available as needed to provide chore type services and to make the caregiver's role easier. Home health aides assist with the patient's personal needs. Inpatient admission to Gilchrist Center for control of acute symptoms which cannot be cared for in a home setting is included.
Bereavement care is available to the immediate and extended family.
The Hospice Medicare benefit is structured in benefit periods. The first two periods are for 90 days each, followed by an unlimited number of subsequent periods of 60 days each. The hospice benefit may be revoked at any time during a benefit period. The patient may then return to regular Medicare benefits under Part A and B. Plus, you may later re-elect the hospice Medicare benefit. Even though the hospice team includes a physician, patients can continue to use their personal physician.