(Snippets from the frontline)
Who should be on hospice?
Hospice is end-of-life care.
Even the best medical care cannot always reverse the ravages of illness or aging, and when pain, discomfort, or suffering ensues, hospice care is appropriate.
The Medicare criteria for hospice admission includes a terminal diagnosis (e.g. cancer or dementia), and two doctors confirming less than 6 months to live. Going on hospice should be a decision made by the patient or their loved ones, and not coerced by doctors or hospitals who might have economic self-interest.
Countless patients with a new terminal diagnosis without quality of life altering symptoms, are immediately placed on hospice by doctors who are contracted by hospitals or HMOs. Why? Because healthcare coverage is separate for hospice patients, so hospitals and HMOs profit while washing their hands of financial obligations.
Many patients may live comfortably longer than 6 months with a terminal diagnosis.
Medicare is aware of this exploitative tactic with ongoing investigations presently taking place.
Don’t be misled: When a patient has a terminal diagnosis and is in pain, discomfort, or suffering, this is the time to consider initiating hospice.
Not before.
Gene Uzawa Dorio, M.D.
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