Hospice
Page posted: 1/1/04 | Page reviewed: | Page updated: 8/30/16 | |
Legal authority | CFR 42, section 418, Minn. Stat. § 256B.0651, Minn. Stat. §144A.48, Minn. Stat. §144A.75, Minn. Stat. §144A.751, Minn. Stat. §144A.752, Minn. Stat. §144A.753, Minn. Stat. §256B.0625, Minn. Stat §256B.0652, Minn. R. 9505.0297 | ||
Definition | Hospice: Palliative and supportive care for people who are terminally ill and their families to meet the physical, nutritional, emotional, social, spiritual and special needs experienced during the final stages of illness, dying and bereavement. | ||
Eligibility | Eligibility for the hospice benefit is established when a person meets all of the following criteria: The hospice benefit is available through Medicare and Medical Assistance (MA). If a dually eligible person elects the Medicare hospice benefit, he or she must also elect the MA hospice benefit. The person may revoke his or her election of the benefit at any time. | ||
Covered services | A comprehensive package of services for the person's terminal illness and conditions related to his or her terminal illness are provided directly though the hospice program or through a service contract or other arrangement. Services include: Hospice services provided must: Continuous care is provided in the home only during brief periods of intense need attributed to the terminal diagnosis as determined by the hospice coordinator and stated in the care plan. A planned program of supportive services for the families during the bereavement period is also included in hospice services. A centrally coordinated program provides services to ensure continuity and consistency of home and inpatient care. | ||
Non-covered services | Services that duplicate a health service that is provided for another disability, diagnosis or condition, or services where there would be a duplicate payment. | ||
Secondary information | Hospice services may be used in the person’s home or a Medicare-certified facility, such as an Intermediate Care Facility for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (IFC/DD), nursing facility or hospital for short-term stay. Hospice and MA State Plan servicesA person enrolled in the hospice benefit may have a complex set of health care needs involving the terminal condition and other medical conditions and/or disabilities. MA State Plan services may need to be adjusted during the period the person receives the hospice benefit. There may be a need for increased MA State Plan services when the terminal diagnosis creates an increased need for assistance for the pre-existing condition. A person may need a new MA State Plan service in response to medical needs that arise during hospice benefit period, but are unrelated to the terminal illness. For more information, see Hospice and MA State Plan services process and procedure. Hospice and BI, CAC, CADI and DD waiversThe waiver services are usually in place before the hospice benefit begins. A referral for waiver services may take place to access available services and supports not related to the terminal condition. The case manager/service coordinator must justify the enrollment onto a waiver for service, confirm coordination with the hospice program and confirm there is no duplication of services. For more information, see hospice and waiver services policy and procedure Hospice and long-term care facilitiesMA-eligible residents of ICFs/DD and NFs who also meet hospice service eligibility may elect to receive hospice services where they live. The hospice provider becomes the primary provider of the service, authorizes and funds the hospice benefits. Medicare and Medicaid payments are made to the hospice provider for both the hospice services it provides and for the residential services provided by the facility. Current law requires a payment of at least 95 percent of the rate that would have been paid for facility services for the person. | ||
Required care coordination | The hospice provider is responsible for leading the hospice service and care coordination with the person, family and other providers. For more information, see hospice provider responsibilities. Care coordination must address each of the following: Care coordination requires complete and timely communication and collaboration among all team members. The interdisciplinary team is a group of qualified persons with expertise in meeting the special needs of hospice patients and their families in a manner that enhances the quality of life but is not directed at curing the illness. This team meets regularly to develop, implement and evaluate the plan of care for each hospice patient and the family. Team members may include: Care coordination must occur when home and community-based services: For more information, see: | ||
Provider standards and qualifications | The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) provide licensing and certification for hospice programs. Each hospice program must be: The medical components of the hospice program are under the direction of a licensed physician who services as medical director. | ||
Hospice provider responsibilities | The hospice provider is required to lead care coordination. The provider has the following responsibilities: | ||
Process and procedure | Access | ||
Additional resources | Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) – Hospice | ||
Process and procedure
Access | The person voluntarily selects the hospice benefit by selecting and informing the hospice provider. The suggestion may come from a physician, discharge planner, family member or others who provide assistance. |
Assessment | There may be more than one assessment of need depending on the services required and the type of services and program the person currently uses. The following lists who is responsible for the assessment under each program: |
Authorization of hospice and MA State Plan services | The determination process for use of the hospice benefit and MA State Plan services needs to focus on the purpose of the service. To determine the purpose of a service, consider what need of the person the service addresses. For example: The hospice provider is responsible for care coordination and to determine if a MA State Plan service duplicates a hospice service. For more information, see hospice provider responsibilities. County PHNs and home care providers are responsible to: Required documentationThe hospice provider must fax or mail the Hospice Transaction Form, DHS-2868 (PDF) or the hospice’s own election statement form to the Medicaid home care agency within two business days of the hospice benefit election. This is the written notification about the person’s election of the hospice benefit and the anticipated start date. Cooperative agreementThe hospice provider develops a care coordination document and shares it with the Medicaid home care provider within eight calendar days of the hospice benefit election. This document must be maintained in the person’s hospice and waiver files. MMIS service agreements – PCA servicesCounty PHNs are responsible for timely MMIS service agreement updates to reflect the increase or reduction in PCA services. A comment must be added to the MMIS service agreement indicating there has been coordination of PCA services with the hospice provider. MMIS service agreements – SNV, HHA and HCNHome care providers are responsible for timely MMIS service agreement authorization updates to reflect the increase or reduction in other MA State Plan services such as home care nursing, skilled nurse visits and home health aide visits. A comment must be added to the MMIS service agreement indicating there has been coordination of MA State Plan services with the hospice provider. |
Authorization of hospice and waiver services | The determination process for use of hospice benefit and waiver services needs to focus on the purpose of the service. To determine the purpose of a service consider what need of the person the service addresses. For example: The hospice provider is responsible for care coordination and assurance that there is no duplication of services. For more information, see hospice provider responsibilities. Case manager/service coordinators are responsible to: Required documentationThe hospice provider must fax or mail the Hospice Transaction Form, DHS-2868 (PDF) or the hospice’s own election statement form to the waiver case manager/service coordinator within two business days of the hospice benefit election. This is written notification about the person’s election of the hospice benefit and the anticipated start date. Cooperative agreementThe hospice provider develops a care coordination document and shares it with the waiver case manager/service coordinator within eight calendar days of hospice benefit election. This document must be maintained in the person’s hospice and waiver files. MMISA new screening document may be needed if there are changes in the person’s health status. A new or revised Service Agreement DHS-3070 (PDF) may be needed with the addition of the hospice benefit to reflect an increase or decrease of waiver and MA State Plan services. An MMIS informational edit will appear on the service agreement to alert lead agencies that the person has elected the hospice benefit. Comments are required on the MMIS service agreement comment section indicating that coordination of services has occurred. The notes must indicate why continuing care services are necessary (e.g., treating a need not related to the terminal illness). When waiver or Alternative Care provider claims are received by DHS, a claim edit suspends the claim when the date of service overlaps with the hospice benefit period. Because the hospice provider becomes the primary payer of services, DHS will manually review home and community-based services provider claims to determine if payment is appropriate. Case management notes in MMIS will be reviewed at that time to ensure hospice provider coordination with the county case manager has occurred. The claim will remain in suspense until the coordination has occurred. When payment appears appropriate, the claim will be paid as requested. The informational edit and manual review of claims will remain in place temporarily to encourage consistent coordination between the provider areas. |
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