Can I still get Medicare hospice benefits if I outlive the initial six-month prognosis?Question 6 of 8 (use "Last" or "Next" buttons to see more) Last Update: March 07, 2011
- If you live longer than six months, you can still get hospice care as long as you are still terminally ill. You can get hospice care for two 90-day periods followed by an unlimited number of 60-day periods. At the start of care, your hospice doctor (and your doctor if you have one) must certify that your life expectancy is six months of less.
- Starting April 1, 2011, you must have a face-to-face meeting with a hospice doctor or nurse practitioner if you reach your third benefit period. The third benefit period begins on day 180 of hospice. After that, you must continue to have face-to-face meetings with a hospice doctor or nurse practitioner before the start of each following 60-day benefit period. The meeting must take place no earlier than 30 days before the new benefit period to confirm you still qualify for hospice care.
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