Routine Home Care- Encompassing hospice services provided to the patient and family by the interdisciplinary team in the patient’s or family’s private residential residence. Routine home care is commonly known as standard hospice services.

Routine Care- Encompassing hospice services provided to the patient and family by the interdisciplinary team in the patient’s residence which is located in a facility in which they reside, such as a nursing home, hospice facility, assisted living, or senior living facility… Commonly know as standard hospice services within a facility.

Acute General Inpatient Care- Commonly referred to as GIP, it is short term, intensive hospice services provided in an appropriately licensed or certified skilled nursing, hospice facility, or hospital to meet the patient’s need for skilled nursing, symptom management or complex care. For patients experiencing acute or severe pain or symptom management problems that cannot be adequately managed through Routine care. Hospice is responsible for paying for room and board services under this level of care. Contracted rates are usually established between hospice and the facility. Rates must be based on a fair-market value that is not utilized for “kick-back” purposes. Hospice must guarantee that the facility has a registered nurse on the floor 24 hours a day to utilize this level of care.

Respite Care- Short term non-crisis care generally provided in a nursing facility, hospice facility, or hospital to provide relief for the family from daily care of the patient. Hospice is responsible for paying for room and board services under this level of care. Contracted rates are usually established between hospice and the facility. Rates must be based on a fair-market value that is not utilized for “kick-back” purposes. Hospice must guarantee that the facility has a registered nurse on the floor 24 hours a day to utilize this level of care.

Continuous Care- Intensive hospice services usually reserved for extreme crisis circumstances. The interdisciplinary team will intervene with services with at least 51% of the care being nursing care, providing one-on-one care and staying with the patient until the patient is relieved of the crisis.

Patients may utilize one or all of the levels of care available to them. If home care and inpatient facilities are available, patients may spend time in both places, depending on their particular needs at a particular time. Patients may be on one level of care, change to another according to their needs, and then back to the same or other level of care. Hospice documentation will validate the changes in those levels of care.