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CAPC Palliative Care Discussion Forum
Designing a Program
hospice unit to palliative care/hospiceAuthor: JeannieC
Date: Apr 27, 2012 7:28 am
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The up side is the per diem hospice inpatient rate that goes to the hospital for GIP level inpatient hospice care. Additionally, families get terrific bereavement support from hospice following the patient's death. Bereavement usually not provided following regular hospital death.
The very real down side is the optics (to CMS and OIG) of a transfer from PCU to inpatient hospice care within the same unit. What additional benefit does a hospital discharge followed by immediate readmission to hospice inpatient bed in same unit provide to the patient? None.
Remember, inpatient hospice care is only for patients who cannot be managed in any other setting (i.e. requiring high oxygen or IV opioid infusion at high rate that cannot be provided at home...). Inpatient hospice care is not for patient dying peacefully from terminal disease with minimal symptom burden. Must also justify to payors need for inpatient level care.
Dana Lustbader MD