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. Understandably, most people are uncomfortable with the idea of stopping aggressive efforts to beat the disease. Hospice staff members are highly sensitive to these concerns and 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 health care 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 the 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 the hospice program 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. The patient will be asked to sign consent and insurance forms.