Ill. HFS Handbook for Hospice Agencies, Topic K-211.3

Hospice care is available only if the following conditions are met:

• The patient’s physician and/or the hospice medical director certify that the

patient is terminally ill (for hospice purposes terminal illness is defined as a

life expectancy of six (6) months or less if the terminal illness runs its normal

course); and

• The patient or legal representative, in the event the patient is physically or

mentally unable to sign, signs an election statement indicating an informed

choice of hospice benefits for the terminal illness; and

• The patient receives care from a Medicare certified hospice that is enrolled

with the Department to provide hospice services; and

• The services are provided in accordance with a plan of care established by

the patient’s attending physician, the medical director or physician designee

and the interdisciplinary group. The plan must include an assessment of the

individual’s needs and identification of the services including the management

of discomfort and symptom relief. It must state in detail the scope and

frequency of services needed to meet the patient’s and family’s needs.

Detailed plan of care and interdisciplinary group requirements are identified in

42 CFR Part 418.