Hospice care is a specialized form of support focusing on comfort and quality of life for individuals facing a terminal illness with a prognosis of six months or less, should the disease run its normal course. This philosophy centers on the person, not the disease, aiming to manage symptoms and provide emotional and spiritual support to the patient and their loved ones. Hospice care does not seek to cure the illness or hasten death, but rather to allow the patient to live as fully and comfortably as possible in their final stage of life. The comprehensive nature of this care includes providing resources and medical equipment to ensure comfort, typically delivered in the patient’s home or a homelike setting.
The Role of Hospice in Providing Medical Equipment
Yes, hospice care provides a hospital bed as an integral part of the patient’s plan of care. This equipment is classified as Durable Medical Equipment (DME) and is provided because it is considered medically necessary for the patient’s safety, comfort, and effective symptom management. A standard home mattress is not often conducive to the physical needs of someone with a life-limiting illness, who may require frequent repositioning or specialized angles for breathing. The hospital bed is typically a full-electric model that allows the patient and caregivers to easily adjust the height, as well as the head and foot sections.
The hospice provider or a contracted vendor handles the logistics of the hospital bed, which is usually rented for the duration of care. This includes delivery, professional installation in the patient’s home, and ongoing maintenance or repairs. Adjustable features allow the patient to achieve positions, such as Fowler’s position, that can relieve shortness of breath or help with digestion. Additionally, the ability to raise and lower the bed frame protects caregivers from back injuries by allowing them to work at a safe height when assisting with personal care.
Essential Durable Medical Equipment Provided
Besides the hospital bed, hospice provides a range of other Durable Medical Equipment to support comfort and mobility in the home setting. These items are also determined to be necessary for managing symptoms related to the terminal diagnosis.
Types of Durable Medical Equipment
- Oxygen equipment, such as concentrators and portable tanks, is commonly provided to relieve breathing difficulties.
- Specialized pressure-relieving mattresses or overlays are often used with the hospital bed to help prevent skin breakdown and pressure ulcers for patients who are bedridden.
- Mobility aids like wheelchairs, walkers, and canes are supplied to help patients maintain as much independence as possible.
- For patients with significant mobility challenges, mechanical lifts, transfer boards, and slings may be provided to safely move the patient between the bed and a chair.
- Bathroom safety equipment, including bedside commodes, raised toilet seats, and shower chairs, is also supplied to ensure safe hygiene practices.
Understanding Coverage and Patient Responsibility
The provision of the hospital bed and other medically necessary Durable Medical Equipment is fully covered under the Medicare Hospice Benefit. This benefit stipulates that all items and services required for pain relief and symptom management related to the terminal illness must be covered. Therefore, for patients enrolled in Medicare Hospice, the equipment is covered at 100% with no deductible or copayment for the patient.
This complete coverage means the patient has zero out-of-pocket costs for the rental of the hospital bed, its delivery, or any necessary service and maintenance while under hospice care. Medicaid and most private insurance plans generally follow similar guidelines for hospice coverage, often mirroring the comprehensive coverage model of Medicare. The key requirement for coverage is that the hospice interdisciplinary team must establish that the equipment is directly related to the terminal diagnosis and is required to meet the goals of the care plan. If an item is not related to the terminal illness, coverage would fall under the patient’s original insurance plan.