479-750-6632
Palliative Care Associates
Both palliative care and hospice focus on helping to reduce physical or emotional suffering. Palliative care may be given at any time during a person’s illness, from diagnosis on. Hospice care is only for patients who have a short life expectancy (typically up to six months or less).
Palliative care tends to be flexible, while most hospices have a set of defined services and rules and regulations. Some hospices provide palliative care as a separate program or service. Here are the differences between the two types of care:
| Question | Palliative Care | Hospice Care |
| Who can receive this care? | Anyone with a serious illness, regardless of life expectancy. | Anyone with an illness with a life expectancy measured in months not years. |
| Can my loved one continue to receive treatments to cure my illness? | Yes. Palliative care and curative care can be provided at the same time. | Hospice treatments and medicines provided relieve symptoms and are not curative. |
| Does Medicare pay? | Some treatments and medications may be covered. | Medicare pays all charges related to hospice. |
| Does Medicaid pay? | Some treatments and medications may be covered. | In 47 states, Medicaid pays all charges related to hospice. |
| Does private insurance pay? | Some treatments and medications may be covered. | Most insurance plans have a hospice benefit. |
| Is this a package deal? | No. Services are flexible and based on the patient’s needs. | Yes. Hospice services are bundled together. |
| How long can I receive care? | This depends on your loved one’s care needs, and health care coverage. | As long as your loved one continues the illness and short life expectancy. |
| What organization provides these services? |
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| Where are services provided? |
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In most cases, wherever the patient resides: at home or in an assisted living facility, nursing facility, or hospital. Some hospices have facilities where people can live, like a hospice residence, or receive care for short-term reasons, such as acute pain or symptom management. |
For inquiries or information about Palliative Care Associates, please call or fax.
Phone: 479-306-4957
Fax: 479-872-3398
