Question 1

Hospice care focuses exclusively on the needs of the patient as the unit of care.

Accepted Answer

Hospice care focuses on the needs of both the patient and their family, providing medical, emotional, and spiritual support to all involved.

Question 2

Under Medicare regulations, both the attending physician and the hospice medical director must certify that the patient is terminally ill.

Accepted Answer

Medicare regulations require that both the attending physician (if any) and the hospice medical director or hospice physician certify that the patient is terminally ill, meaning the patient has a medical prognosis of six months or less to live if the illness runs its normal course.

Question 3

Hospices provide curative therapy rather than symptom management.

Accepted Answer

Hospices focus on palliative care, providing comfort and symptom management for terminally ill patients, rather than curative treatments.

Question 4

No more than 50% of hospice care can be provided in the patient's place of residence.

Accepted Answer

Hospice care is primarily designed to be provided in the patient's place of residence, and there is no such limit restricting it to no more than 50%. In fact, the majority of hospice care is provided at home to allow patients to be in a familiar and comfortable environment.

Question 5

The primary caregiver is the person designated to provide care for the hospice patient when hospice staff is not available.

Accepted Answer

The primary caregiver is indeed the person designated to provide care for the hospice patient when hospice staff is not available, taking responsibility for the day-to-day care of the patient.

Question 6

When a hospice patient is admitted to the hospital for pain and symptom management, the hospital is reimbursed by Medicare for the DRG and the hospice receives a reduced per diem payment for each day of the patient's stay.

Accepted Answer

The answer of When a hospice patient is admitted to...

Question 7

The Affordable Care Act requires that a hospice physician or nurse practitioner have a face-to-face encounter with a hospice patient not more than 15 days prior to the start of the hospice patient's second benefit period .

Accepted Answer

The Affordable Care Act requires that a hospice physician or nurse practitioner have a face-to-face encounter with a hospice patient not more than 30 days prior to the start of the hospice patient's third benefit period, to help ensure that the patient continues to meet hospice eligibility requirements.

Question 8

Volunteers may be paid at a lower hourly rate than other hospice employees.

Accepted Answer

Volunteers typically do not receive payment for their services, as they offer their time and skills freely to support hospice care.

Question 9

Medicare regulations permit certification of terminal illness with a life expectancy that is unknown and/or unspecified.

Accepted Answer

Medicare regulations require a certification of terminal illness to include a prognosis of 6 months or less if the illness runs its normal course.

Question 10

A hospice program is licensed by the state in which it is located.

Accepted Answer

Hospice programs are typically required to be licensed by the state in which they operate to ensure they meet specific regulatory standards and provide quality care.

Question 11

There is no voluntary accreditation organization with deeming authority for hospice programs and facilities.

Accepted Answer

The Joint Commission is an example of a voluntary accreditation organization with deeming authority for hospice programs and facilities.

Question 12

In addition to clinical staff, the hospice interdisciplinary group includes a pastoral or other counselor who offers spiritual support and comfort.

Accepted Answer

The hospice interdisciplinary group indeed includes a pastoral or other counselor to provide spiritual support and comfort, recognizing the holistic approach to patient care that addresses physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.

Question 13

Hospice benefit periods are categorized as an initial 60-day period, a subsequent 60-day period, then a final 90-day period.

Accepted Answer

Hospice benefit periods start with an initial 90-day period, followed by another 90-day period, and then subsequent 60-day periods for as long as the patient is eligible.

Question 14

By definition, the patient's primary caregiver is also the patient's legal representative.

Accepted Answer

The patient's primary caregiver is not necessarily the patient's legal representative. A primary caregiver is someone who provides primary support and care for a patient, often on a personal, non-professional basis. In contrast, a legal representative is someone who has the legal authority to make decisions on behalf of the patient, which could be a family member, a legal guardian, or someone appointed by the court, and does not necessarily involve providing day-to-day care.

Question 15

Hospice services require little out-of-pocket expense and paperwork on the part of the patient and/or family.

Accepted Answer

Hospice services are typically covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans, which greatly reduces the out-of-pocket expenses and paperwork required from the patient and/or family.

Question 16

Hospice and home care tend to be high-pressure, high-burnout working environments for clinical staff, with staff turnover high in some areas

Accepted Answer

Hospice and home care environments often involve emotionally and physically demanding work, dealing with terminally ill patients and their families, leading to high levels of stress and burnout among clinical staff. This can result in higher turnover rates in these areas.

Question 17

Many hospice patients are unable to consent for themselves and have appointed personal representatives.

Accepted Answer

Many hospice patients may be in a condition where they are unable to make medical decisions for themselves due to the severity of their illness, cognitive decline, or other factors. In such cases, they often have appointed personal representatives or have family members or legal guardians designated to make decisions on their behalf.

Question 18

The time period beginning immediately upon the death of the patient and lasting up to one year or longer is the period of _____________________.​

Accepted Answer

The answer of The time period beginning immediately upon the...

Question 19

______________________________ is any medical therapy given for the purpose of curing disease.​

Accepted Answer

The answer of ______________________________ is any medical therapy given for...

Question 20

A(n) _____________________________ is a facility or a program designed to provide a caring environment to meet the physical and emotional needs of terminally ill patients and their families and significant others.​

Accepted Answer

The answer of A(n) _____________________________ is a facility or a...

Quiz 13: Hospice