Frequently asked questions

No. Hospice care is available to patients with life-limiting illnesses who are seeking medical care focused on alleviating pain and managing symptoms for comfort rather than curing their disease. The hospice insurance benefit generally covers patients with a life expectancy of six months or less, as determined by a physician.

Medicare, Medicaid, VA benefits, and most private insurance plans cover the cost of hospice care.

Anyone involved in the patient’s care may refer them to Ka-Dash Hospice. After we receive the referral, our staff will contact the patient’s primary physician to verify that the patient is appropriate for hospice care.

No, hospice does not expedite or delay death. It is care provided to patients to make them more comfortable and peaceful during “end of life care.”

We welcome everyone to become educated about hospice early, and dispel any myths and worries about what hospice care is. By having these discussions in advance, patients and their families can make an educated decision about hospice.

Hospice care begins as soon as a formal request, or “referral,” is made by the patient’s physician. A representative from Ka-Dash Hospice will schedule a visit with the patient within 48 hours of receiving the referral. However, in urgent situations, hospice services may begin sooner.

We here at Ka-Dash have a relationship with a free-standing term care facility that will welcome our patients who need increasing care. However, care in these facilities are not covered under the Medicare or Medicaid Hospice Benefit. We advise our patients to find out, well before hospice may be needed, if insurance or any other payer covers this type of care or if patients or their families will be responsible for payment.

Hospice services can be provided wherever a terminally ill patient resides. The hospice and the nursing home will have a written agreement making it possible for Ka-Dash Hospice to serve our patients in long-term facilities.

There is no definite time limit for receiving hospice care as long as the patient remains eligible and the services continue to be covered by the patient’s insurance provider. Patients may choose to stop receiving hospice services at any time any time if their conditions improve or if they want to seek a cure for their disease.