1. Introduction

Fast Care Hospice is dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality care to patients and their families. This payment policy outlines the guidelines for billing, payment, and financial assistance for services rendered by Fast Care Hospice.

 

2. Eligibility for Hospice Care

2.1 General Eligibility:

  • Adults with a terminal illness and a prognosis of 6 months or less are eligible for hospice care.
  • Hospice care is also available for children and adolescents, although regulations and coverage may differ from those for adults.

2.2 Common Diagnoses:

  • Cancer
  • Heart disease
  • Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Lung disease
  • Stroke
  • Chronic kidney disease
  • Cirrhosis
  • Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS)

2.3 When to Consider Hospice:

  • Significant decline in physical or cognitive status despite medical treatment.
  • Increased pain or symptoms, substantial weight loss, extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, or weakness.
  • Preference to live more comfortably and forgo treatments that have not been successful in curing or halting a life-threatening illness.
  • End-stage Alzheimer’s or dementia.

 

3. Initiating Hospice Care

3.1 Referral Process:

  • A hospice physician and a second physician (often the patient’s attending physician or specialist) must certify that the patient has a life expectancy of 6 months or less.
  • Referrals typically begin with the attending/specialist physician who knows the patient’s medical history.
  • Patients and families can also self-refer, but eligibility must be confirmed by physicians before care begins.

3.2 Contacting Hospice:

  • Patients or family members should express their preference for hospice care to healthcare providers.
  • If there is resistance or lack of recent physician contact, patients or families can reach out directly to Fast Care Hospice for guidance on the admission process.

 

4. Services Covered

Fast Care Hospice provides comprehensive hospice care including:

  • Medical and pain management
  • Nursing care
  • Counseling and emotional support
  • Respite care
  • Spiritual care
  • Medical equipment and supplies related to the terminal illness
  • Pharmaceutical Services:
    • Medications necessary for pain control and symptom management related to the terminal illness.
    • Fast Care Hospice covers the cost of medications related to the terminal diagnosis, including delivery to the patient’s location.
    • Patients may have a minimal co-payment for medications not directly related to hospice care or when using outside pharmacy services.

 

5. Payment Options and Coverage

5.1 Medicare:

  • Medicare covers all aspects of hospice care without deductibles, though there may be a nominal copayment for prescriptions and respite care.

5.2 Medicaid:

  • Medicaid offers similar coverage to Medicare in most states.
  • Patients eligible for Medicaid must provide proof of coverage.

5.3 Private Insurance:

  • Fast Care Hospice accepts most major private insurance plans.
  • Insurance benefits will be verified, and claims will be filed on behalf of the patient.
  • Patients are responsible for copayments, deductibles, or non-covered services per their policy.

5.4 Military Families:

  • Hospice care is covered through Tricare for military families.

5.5 Veterans:

  • Veterans with the VHA Standard Medical Benefits Package are eligible for hospice services, often through contracts with local community providers. No co-payment is required.

5.6 Self-Pay:

  • Patients without insurance or who choose to pay out-of-pocket will receive a detailed statement of charges.
  • Payment plans can be arranged with the billing department to accommodate financial situations.

 

6. Payment Terms

6.1 Invoices:

  • Self-pay patients and balances after insurance claims are processed will receive monthly invoices.
  • Payments are due within 30 days of the invoice date.

6.2 Payment Methods:

  • Payments can be made via check, credit card, or electronic funds transfer.
  • We use third-party payment processors such as GoDaddy Payments or PayPal for secure transactions.
  • Payments can be mailed to our billing department or processed over the phone or through our secure online payment portal.

6.3 Data Security:

  • Fast Care Hospice does not store or retain your personal financial information.
  • All transactions are processed through secure third-party services, ensuring your personal information remains confidential.

6.4 Late Payments:

  • Accounts not paid within 30 days will incur a late fee of 50$.
  • Patients with outstanding balances will be contacted to discuss payment arrangements.

 

7. Financial Assistance

7.1 Eligibility:

  • Fast Care Hospice offers financial assistance for patients who meet specific income and asset criteria.

7.2 Application Process:

  • Patients or their representatives must complete a financial assistance application with supporting documentation.
  • Applications can be obtained from our billing department or downloaded from our website.

 

8. Refunds and Adjustments

8.1 Overpayments:

  • Overpayments will be refunded or applied to future services based on patient preference.

8.2 Disputes:

  • Billing disputes should be addressed with the billing department within 30 days of receiving a statement.
  • Fast Care Hospice will review and resolve disputes promptly.

 

9. Locations and Delivery of Care

9.1 Service Locations:

  • Hospice care is provided wherever the patient resides: private homes, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, or hospitals.
  • Fast Care Hospice may transport patients to a special inpatient facility for short-term symptom management if needed.

9.2 Residential Centers:

  • Fast Care Hospice operates long-term residential centers for hospice care. Costs associated with residence are the patient/family’s responsibility.

 

10. Payment Processing

Fast Care Hospice uses secure third-party payment processors like GoDaddy Payments and PayPal for all financial transactions. We do not store or retain your personal financial information. These processors ensure that your payments are secure and confidential, adhering to industry-standard security protocols.