Hospice care became a recognized benefit under Medicare in 1983, and approximately 90% of all hospice programs are Medicare certified. As 28% of all Medicare costs go to persons in their last year of life, and 50% of such costs are expended during the last 2 months of life, (more…)

Hospice is a philosophy of caring for dying patients and their families while emphasizing quality of life. Care is provided by an interdisciplinary team to meet the patient’s and family’s needs throughout the dying process as well as after death. Bereavement care is a key component of hospice, setting it apart from other forms of institutional care provided to dying persons. (more…)