Mich. Medicaid Provider Manual, Hospice § 6.6

There are four categories of hospice care:

Routine Home Care Routine Home Care is defined as hospice home care that is not continuous.

Continuous Home

Care

Continuous Home Care is defined as short-term in-home care that is reflective of at

least half of the hours predominantly being nursing care provided by either a registered

nurse or licensed practical nurse in a crisis situation. Home health aide or homemaker

services may be provided in addition to nursing care. A minimum of eight hours of

care per day must be provided to qualify as continuous home hospice care. Payment is

made for the hours of continuous care provided, up to 24 hours in one day.

Inpatient Respite

Care

Inpatient Respite Care is defined as short-term inpatient care to relieve the primary

caregiver(s) providing at-home hospice care for the beneficiary. Hospice care may be

provided in a licensed hospice residence, hospital, or NF meeting hospice standards for

staffing and patient areas. The length of stay may not exceed five consecutive days.

General Inpatient

Care

General inpatient care is covered when the beneficiary’s condition is such that their

symptoms cannot be adequately treated under the routine hospice care benefit. It is

defined as short-term inpatient care provided in a licensed hospice residence, hospital,

or NF meeting hospice standards for staffing and patient areas. This brief episode of

care is usually for pain control, or acute or chronic symptom management, that cannot

be reasonably treated in another setting. General inpatient care is not to be used

solely if a beneficiary requires care in a facility setting. Michigan Medicaid provides

payment for room and board in a nursing facility if the beneficiary’s hospice care would

be more appropriately provided in this setting under the routine hospice benefit.

Guidelines for core and other services (as detailed above) apply to all categories of care.