Hospice care is a specialized approach focused on comfort and quality of life for individuals with a terminal illness, providing comprehensive support rather than curative treatment. The relationship with the hospice provider is paramount to ensuring peace and dignity during a challenging time. Patients and their representatives are not locked into a single agency; the answer to whether you can transfer from one hospice to another is definitively yes. This ability to change providers is a fundamental right that allows patients to seek the best fit for their needs, whether due to dissatisfaction or a change in living arrangements.
Patient Rights Regarding Hospice Provider Choice
The ability for a patient to change their hospice provider is a protected right within the framework of end-of-life care regulations. This choice is grounded in the principle that the patient or their legal representative has control over their medical decisions. The decision to transfer providers rests solely with the patient, and the current hospice agency cannot prevent or unreasonably delay the move.
The right to transfer is regulated by the structure of the Medicare Hospice Benefit. A patient is permitted to change hospice providers once during each benefit period. The benefit structure begins with two 90-day periods, followed by an unlimited number of 60-day periods, and a transfer can occur one time within any of these cycles. Common reasons for seeking a transfer include moving outside the current agency’s service range or desiring a different approach to care or better communication.
Navigating the Hospice Transfer Process
Initiating a transfer requires clear communication and a formal, documented request to ensure continuity of care. The patient or representative must choose a new hospice and notify the current provider of the intent to transfer. A signed statement is required, which must list the name of the current hospice, the name of the new hospice, and the precise effective date of the change.
This signed document must be provided to both the discharging and admitting hospice agencies to formalize the process. The transfer must happen without a gap in service; the patient must be admitted to the new hospice on the exact same day they are discharged from the former one. This same-day transition maintains uninterrupted support, including the delivery of medications, medical supplies, and durable medical equipment.
Both agencies coordinate the transfer of the patient’s medical records, ensuring the new team has a complete history to develop the care plan. The receiving hospice conducts initial assessments immediately to align its services with the patient’s existing needs. The current agency is prohibited from delaying the process, and both the discharging and admitting hospices are permitted to bill for services on the day of the transfer.
Financial and Coverage Considerations
A change in providers does not alter the patient’s overall eligibility for the Medicare Hospice Benefit. The benefit period, which begins with the original election of hospice care, continues without interruption when a transfer occurs on the same day. Transferring is not the same as a revocation, which would end the current benefit period and require the patient to re-elect the benefit to resume coverage.
The receiving hospice is responsible for submitting a Notice of Change to Medicare, informing the system that the patient is continuing their existing benefit period under a new agency. This administrative step ensures continuous coverage is recognized and that the benefit clock does not restart. Careful coordination is needed to prevent any billing gaps or overlaps between the two providers.
If an accidental break in service occurs—even for a single day—Medicare regulations consider this a discharge from the former hospice. The patient would then need to re-elect the hospice benefit, which begins a new benefit period. Therefore, confirming the exact same-day transfer date is necessary to avoid unexpected financial complications or a lapse in coverage.