We hope they will help you understand hospice better. At any time during a life-limiting illness, it's appropriate to discuss all of a patient's care options, including hospice. By law, the decision belongs to the patient. Hospice staff members are highly sensitive to these concerns and are always available to discuss them with the patient and family. The patient and family should feel free to discuss hospice care at any time with their physician, other healthier professionals, clergy or friends.
Most physicians know about hospice.
In addition, physicians and all others can also obtain information on hospice from the American Cancer Society, the American Association of Retired Persons, and the Social Security Administration. If the patient's condition improves and the disease seems to be in remission, patients can be discharged from hospice and return to aggressive therapy or go on about their daily life. If a discharged patient should later need to return to hospice care, Medicare and most private insurance will allow additional coverage for this purpose. One of the first things hospice will do is contact the patient's physician to make sure he or she agrees that hospice care is appropriate for this patient at this time. That patient will also be asked to sign consent and insurance forms.