COUNCIL ON AGING - SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Choosing A Hospice Provider HOSPICE REFERRAL RESOURCES: o Physician o Local hospital discharge planner, social worker or case manager o If patient has medical insurance - case managers who work for the insurance company o Friends and family members who have utilized hospice services QUESTIONS TO ASK HOSPICE PROVIDERS: o How long have you been serving the community? o Is your hospice certified by the state and Medicare? (Medicare certified programs have met federal minimum requirements for patient care and management.) o Is the agency accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting body? o Are there any out-of-pocket charges to anticipate? If so, for what service(s)? o Who comprises your hospice team and what is the average number of visits they make to a patient each week? o What kind of volunteers do you have and what services do they provide? o Does your hospice provide the patient with consistent team members or will there be different team members that will visit over time? o Do your physicians make visits to your patients? How often? 76 Answers Guide 23/24 COUNCIL ON AGING - SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IS A 501 (C)3 NONPROFIT CORPORATION. TO DISTRIBUTE ANSWERS FREE OF COST, WE MUST SELL ADVERTISING SPACE. WHILE WE APPRECIATE THE PAID LISTINGS IN ANSWERS, THEIR INCLUSION DOES NOT IMPLY A RECOMMENDATION OR ENDORSEMENT OF PRODUCTS OR SERVICES BY COASC. ALWAYS BE A VIGILANT CONSUMER. VERIFY INFORMATION AND SEEK REFERENCES WHERE APPROPRIATE. CHECKLISTS