Continuous Home Care in Hospice provides intensive care in a patient’s home during periods of crisis to manage symptoms that cannot be effectively managed without the continual presence of medical personnel. It is one of the four levels of care under the Medicare hospice benefit.

To qualify for Continuous Home Care, a patient must be enrolled in a hospice program, experiencing an acute medical crisis with symptoms that require continuous care and management by healthcare professionals in the comfort of their home.

Continuous Home Care services include but are not limited to:

• On-site nursing care
• Symptom management and medication administration
• Counseling and support services for the patient and family
• Coordination of care with the patient’s hospice team and personal physicians

Continuous Home Care is provided during periods of crisis and typically involves a minimum of 8 hours of care in a 24-hour period, up to 24 hours a day on a temporary basis until the situation is resolved.

Continuous Home Care specifically manages acute symptoms requiring constant medical monitoring and intervention at home. In contrast, other levels of hospice care, such as Routine Home Care, involve regular visits from hospice staff instead of continuous, round-the-clock care.

Yes, Medicare covers Continuous Home Care under the hospice benefit. This includes coverage for all necessary medical services, medications, and supplies related to the hospice diagnosis.