Va. DMAS Hospice Provider Manual ch. IV, Categories Of Care

As described for Medicare and applicable to Medicaid, hospice services entail the

following four categories of daily care:

a.

Routine home care is at-home daily care that is not continuous.

b.

Continuous home care consists of a minimum of eight (8) hours of care a day.

The care is predominantly nursing and is provided as short-term crisis care. A

registered nurse or licensed practical nurse, with current licensure in the

Commonwealth of Virginia, must provide care for more than half of the period

of care. 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 care.

c.

Inpatient respite care is short-term inpatient care provided in an approved

facility (freestanding hospice, hospital, or nursing facility) to relieve the primary

caregiver(s) providing at-home care for the individual. The hospice provider is

responsible for all services related to the individual’s terminal illness. These

services may be provided under contract with the hospital or nursing facility,

or by hospice direct staff. Medicaid reimbursement will be allowed for no more

than five (5) consecutive days of hospice respite care.

d.

General inpatient care may be provided in an approved freestanding hospice,

hospital, or nursing facility. This care is usually for pain control, or acute/

chronic symptom management, which cannot be successfully treated in

another setting. The hospice provider is responsible for all services related to

the individual’s terminal illness. These services may be provided under

contract with the hospital or nursing facility, or by hospice direct staff.