What services are under the Hospice Medicare benefit?

We provide the following services to all our patients regardless of insurance payment, ability to pay or cost of care:

1. Initial and ongoing assessment and treatment of physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs of our patient and their family is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
2. Nursing and Certified Nursing Assistance in the home or inpatient unit.
3. Continuous (8 or more hours in a 24-hour period) nursing for short-term crisis periods.
4. Medical supplies, equipment, and drugs related to the terminal diagnosis and identified in the Plan of Care.
5. Medical Social Services/Counseling by a Masters prepared Licensed Social Worker.
6. Spiritual Counseling by our Pastor.
7. Short-term inpatient admission in contracted facility for pain control or acute or chronic symptom management as approved by the Plan of Care.
8. Physician services for reducing symptoms and managing terminal illness if the patient?s physician does not meet these needs.
9. Short?term inpatient respite care.
10. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech/language therapy, homemaker services, and dietary counseling.
11. Trained volunteers to assist and support both the patient and their family. (See Volunteer section for more information.)
12. Bereavement Care services and counseling.
13. Coordination of services with additional agencies.
14. Professional management for all contracted services, including inpatient and respite care admissions, pharmacy and durable medical equipment.

Care planning for a Hospice patient is done by the Interdisciplinary Group (IDG) that meets weekly to develop and review each individual patient?s Plan Of Care. The IDG consists of the primary physician, Hospice Medical Director and representatives from all covered services such as RNs, Licensed Social Worker, Chaplain, Volunteer and Bereavement Program Coordinator. The patient and family are considered a part of the group in planning care and are invited to attend.

Care is focused on reducing the symptoms and supporting the patient and family. DeKalb County Hospice works with the primary physician to provide the most advanced medications to alleviate pain and discomfort of the disease process. The majority of care is in the home. Over 90 percent of our patients are able to stay in their home, being cared for by DeKalb County Hospice staff and family. Family members are given the resources to care for their loved one by the DeKalb County Hospice staff.

Who pays for Hospice care?

DeKalb County Hospice services are covered by a per diem payment from Medicare, Medicaid, and many insurance plans. Donation and fundraising activities help to provide care to individuals without insurance or where the cost of the care exceeds the payment from the insurance companies. DeKalb County Hospice endeavors to not pass on the cost of care to the patient.

Bereavement Care Services are a vital part of the DeKalb County Hospice program and are not covered by insurance. All insurance payments stop when the patient is discharged from the program or at death. DeKalb County Hospice provides support for as long as the family wishes. Mailings and Bereavement newsletters offer guidance and encouragement. Grief support groups provide a place where individuals can network and support each other. Bereavement care is there to help family and friends of hospice patients as well as community in general.

What are the benefit periods?

Medicare has benefit periods for anyone accepted for services. The benefit periods in sequence are 90 days, 90 days and unlimited 60 days. At the beginning of each benefit period the primary physician must certify that the patient meets the requirements for admission and continued care in the program. All documentation must substantiate the terminal prognosis.

The patient may choose to revoke the benefit at any time, but if readmitted, is admitted into their next benefit period. An example of a revocation would be the patient choosing to start or restart active treatment, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy, for the disease. When a person elects the Medicare Hospice benefit they accordingly waive their rights to regular Medicare benefits unless the care is for something not related to the terminal diagnosis (e.g. fracture resulting from a fall on ice). A person?s Medicare insurance will also continue to cover care for those conditions not a part of the terminal diagnosis. An example of this might be a person whose terminal diagnosis is lung cancer and is also being treated for a heart condition.

Is Hospice care available in a nursing care facility?

Yes. The facility is considered to be the resident?s home and, therefore, the resident receives the same services available to any of our patients. We must have a contract with the facility to provide care to its residents. The contract outlines which services are provided by the facility and which are provided by hospice. Call 1-815-756-3000 for a current list of nursing care facilities that have contracts with DeKalb County Hospice.

How can I help support DeKalb County Hospice?

For the past 20 years DeKalb County Hospice has needed and relied on the generosity of community members, families of Hospice patients, community agencies, and the countless hours donated by its core of dedicated volunteers to provide services to the community.

All fundraising activities, including those through the Kishwaukee Health Foundation, continue to be an important source of revenue for DCH as insurance payments do not cover the cost of bereavement services, more costly insured patient?s care and care of patients without insurance coverage. DCH's mission is a commitment to caring for anyone who is eligible for care regardless of ability to pay.

In general, public support comes from fundraising activities, memorial gifts and general donations. In addition, DeKalb County Hospice receives grants from various United Way, United Fund and Community Chest organizations throughout the county. DCH also depends upon the generous support of foundations located in the community to assist with special projects or program needs.