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Hi, I'm Pamela Gentry at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. If you've
got a minute, I've got important information to share with you about hospice and
palliative care and the Medicare coverage that helps to ensure a dignified
choice for end-of-life care.
November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month and a time to acknowledge
that over 1.5 million families benefit from the nation's hospice programs each
year. Medicare coverage for Hospice was first initiated in 1982 and has evolved
to meet the needs of patients and families ever since.
Hospice care covered through Medicare is usually given in the home and includes
a number of services when included by your doctor in a plan of care for terminal
illness and related conditions, such as skilled nursing care and counseling.
Under Original Medicare, there is no cost for hospice care and no deductible.
End-of-life care is a difficult conversation but families should think about
options long before there is an immediate concern.
For more information about Medicare coverage visit medicare.gov or call
1-800-MEDICARE. For related resources, visit the National Hospice and Palliative
Care Organization or the Hospice Association of America on the web.