Hospice care does not have to be permanent stay. Patients have the right to withdraw from treatment at any time for any number of reasons. Some reasons include improvements in health, remission, or possible break-throughs or medical advances in treatment.
Hospice professionals may also discharge a patient if they notice signs of improved health or recovery. Patients and their families may also decide to take an alternate, more curative approach in these cases, instead of the hospice program’s relief-based approach. Medical advances in medications and technology also allow for better monitoring and treatment of medical conditions resulting in longer life expectancies.
However, if a discharged patient wants to later return to hospice care, most private insurance companies and HMOs, Medicare, and Medicaid will allow readmission.
To learn more about Stein Hospice and the programs we offer please contact Bruce Birnberg, LCSW, Executive Director, at (732) 227-1212 or email [email protected].
Read all of the posts in our series about Hospice Myths »