Does choosing home hospice mean a patient can never go to an inpatient facility?

No. The level of care can change as a patient's needs change. Someone receiving routine home care can move to general inpatient care during a symptom crisis and return home once it's resolved.

Is general inpatient hospice care the same as a regular hospital stay?

No. It can happen inside a hospital building, but it's a distinct hospice level of care focused specifically on pain and symptom management, not general hospital treatment, and it's meant to be short-term.

How long can inpatient respite care last?

Up to 5 consecutive days per stay. Any additional days beyond that are paid at the routine home care rate instead.

Does home hospice cost the patient more or less than inpatient hospice?

Generally neither. Patients pay nothing for most covered hospice services at either level. The cost difference is in what Medicare pays the hospice, not what the family owes.

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Hospice Care at Home vs. Inpatient Facility: What Actually Differs

Hospice Guidebook

Sep 7

0 min read

Updated: Sep 13