Palliative Care Home Services FAQ

Goals of care—Curative or rehabilitative, primarily focused on medical needs.

Criteria for admission—Physician directed care provided to persons who are homebound, and require intermittent skilled services to promote or maintain health status.

Who provides the care?—A team of home care professionals including nurses, therapists, social workers, dietitians, and home health aides in collaboration with primary care physician.

What is provided?—Maintain or restore level of function or health by:

• Treating illness or injury
• Teaching self-management of chronic illness
• Promoting home safety and independence

Who pays for care?—Medicare, Medicaid, and most insurance companies.

Goals of care—Specialized medical care for people with serious illness. Goal is to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life for patient and family.

Criteria for admission—Same eligibility criteria as traditional home health care. Designed for those with serious illness who may be receiving treatment.

Who provides the care?—A specially trained team of palliative care experts including nurses, therapists, social workers, dietitians, and home health aides together with primary care physician.

What is provided?—Specialty Home Health services with a focus on:

• Pain and symptom management
• Emotional and spiritual support
• Person-centered care guided by individual values and preferences

Who pays for care?—Medicare, Medicaid, and most insurance companies.

Goals of care—Specialty practice for people with serious illness. Goal is to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life for patient and family.

Criteria for admission—Provided to persons with a chronic or serious illness who may be receiving treatment. Requires referral from primary care provider or specialty provider.

Who provides the care?—Nurse practitioner and trained team of palliative care experts including social workers and chaplain.

What is provided?—Consultative and collaborative specialty provider visits for:

• Pain and symptom management
• Advance care planning
• Coordination of care
• Emotional and spiritual support
• Resources for support programs in the community

Who pays for care?—Medicare, Medicaid, and most insurance companies under specialty coverage.

Goals of care—Holistic approach focused on comfort and enhanced quality of life for patient and family.

Criteria for admission—Provided to persons with a life expectancy measured in months rather than years. Not required to be homebound.

Who provides the care?—A specially trained team of hospice care experts including the primary physician, hospice medical director, nurses, social workers, hospice aides, spiritual counselors, dietitians, therapists, and volunteers.

What is provided?—Comprehensive program providing all care and services related to the palliation of the terminal illness:

• Pain and symptom management
• Emotional and spiritual support
• Assistance with personal care
• Durable Medical Equipment
• Supplies and medications related to the hospice care at home
• Short-term inpatient care
• Bereavement support
• Respite care is also covered as needed

Who pays for care?—Medicare, Medicaid, and most insurance companies.