La. Medicaid Services Manual ch. 24 (Hospice) § 24.0

Hospice care is an alternative treatment approach that is based on recognition that impending death

requires a change from curative treatment to palliative care for the terminally ill patient and support

for the family. Palliative care focuses on comfort care and the alleviation of physical, emo tional

and spiritual suffering. Instead of hospitalization, its focus is on maintaining the terminally ill

patient at home with minimal disruptions in normal activities and with as much physical and

emotional comfort as possible.

The hospice concept grew out of a belief that many of the physical, sociological, spiritual,

educational and emotional needs of the terminally ill patient and family were not being met by the

existing health care system. The dying person fears pain, loss of body and self-control, and loss of

family and friends. For the spouse there are fears about what will happen to me; adult children

must deal with role reversal, as the parent becomes more dependent. 1 Hospice care is an

interdisciplinary approach to the delivery of care with attention to such needs.

Criteria for Hospice Care

A beneficiary must be terminally ill in order to receive Medicaid hospice care. An individual is

considered terminally ill if they have a medical prognosis that their life expectancy is six months

or less if the illness runs its normal course.

1 Kilburn, L., Hospice Operations Manual: A Guide to Organizational Development, Management, Care Planning,

Regulatory Compliance and Financial Services, National Hospice Organization, Arlington Virginia, 1988.