Choose a hospice that is licensed, Medicare-certified, responsive in a crisis and well rated by other families. You have the right to pick any Medicare-approved hospice that serves your area, and you can change hospices once in each benefit period if you are not satisfied.
Step 1: Check the basics
- Medicare certification. Look the hospice up on Medicare Care Compare. Every hospice in our California directory shows its Medicare ID (CCN), so you can match it.
- State license. In California, check the hospice’s license status on CDPH Cal Health Find. It also shows inspection results and complaints.
- Service area. Confirm they serve your city and the setting you need: home, assisted living or nursing home.
Step 2: Compare quality
Care Compare publishes results from the CAHPS Hospice Survey, in which families rate the hospice on communication, timely help, respect, emotional support and training for caregivers. It also shows quality measures, such as how often the hospice checked for pain and breathing problems. Compare two or three hospices side by side.
Step 3: Ask the right questions
- “How long have you served patients in this area?”
- “How quickly can you admit a new patient? Same day? Weekends?”
- “If we call at 2 a.m., who answers, and how fast can a nurse come to the home?”
- “How often will the nurse and aide visit at first?”
- “Do you provide continuous home care during a crisis? Where do patients go for inpatient and respite care?”
- “How many patients does each nurse care for?”
- “Can my loved one keep their own doctor?”
- “What support do you offer the family after death?”
- “Are there any medications, supplies or services you will not cover? Can I have that in writing?”
Red flags to avoid
Hospice fraud has been a serious problem, especially in Los Angeles County. Be cautious of any hospice that:
- Recruits door to door, by phone or at community events, or approaches you without a referral.
- Offers gifts, cash, free groceries or other services in exchange for signing up.
- Says hospice is for anyone, or that your loved one qualifies without a doctor’s review.
- Asks for your Medicare number before you have chosen them.
- Pressures you to sign quickly, or does not clearly explain that hospice means stopping curative treatment.
- Has a license problem, no physical office you can visit, or shares a small building with many other hospices.
Signing up for hospice when someone is not terminally ill can stop their other Medicare coverage. If you suspect fraud, report it to the HHS Office of Inspector General at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477), or to Medicare at 1-800-633-4227.
Step 4: Make the choice, and know you can change
Trust how the hospice treats you on the first call. Good hospices listen, explain clearly and never pressure. If the care does not meet your needs, you can switch to another Medicare-approved hospice once in each benefit period.
Find a hospice
Browse Medicare-certified hospices in California by county, and use the Medicare ID on each listing to check quality on Care Compare.
Sources
This guide is general information, not medical or legal advice.