Wis. ForwardHealth Online Handbook, Hospice, Topic #1158

Inpatient respite care is short-term inpatient care provided to the hospice member only when necessary to relieve the family

members or others caring for the member at home.

For each day inpatient respite care is provided, the hospice is required to bill Wisconsin Medicaid for services using the inpatient

respite care revenue code. The hospice is responsible for paying the hospital or SNF (skilled nursing facility) that provided the

care.

Inpatient care for respite purposes must be provided by a Medicaid-enrolled hospital or SNF that meets the additional

enrollment requirements noted in Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 132, regarding staffing, patient areas, and 24-hour nursing service

for SNFs.

Requirements for Inpatient Respite Care

An inpatient stay for respite care must not exceed five consecutive days per instance, including the date of admission but not

counting the date of discharge.

Inpatient care exceeding five consecutive days must be medically necessary for pain control and symptom management and must

be billed as general inpatient care.