SAFEGUARDS FOR MEDICARE PATIENTS IN HOSPICE CARE

Hospice is an increasingly important benefit for the Medicare population. The goals of hospice care are to make terminally ill patients, with a life expectancy of 6 months or less, be as physically and emotionally comfortable as possible and to support their families and other caregivers throughout the process. Medicare patients who elect hospice care are an especially vulnerable population. They have the right to be free from abuse, neglect, mistreatment, and misappropriation of patient property. When hospices cause harm or fail to prevent or mitigate harm caused by others, patients are deprived of these basic rights.