FAQ
General
Home Health and Hospice offer an affordable way to receive medical care at home. Many who access these benefits are over the age of 65 and are entitled to Medicare benefits which cover 100 percent of the cost of services and associated medication and supply costs. Medicaid and most commercial insurances also provide home health and hospice coverage
Often, when patients elect home health or hospice, it is their primary physician who authorizes, coordinates, and follows their care from start to finish. Big Sky Palliative and Hospice will work closely with the physician of your choice as we provide care. If the patient does not have a primary care physician and needs to be seen by a doctor, the Hospice agency has Medical Directors who can visit the patient. Otherwise, recommendations can be made, and the agency can assist the patient in visiting another physician of their choice.
We can work with your physician to help facilitate this process. With a completed referral, we can typically see you that same week.
Hospice is serious medical care. Most agencies are Medicare-certified which requires them to employ experienced medical personnel specifically trained in modalities, techniques, and treatments to help achieve the desired outcomes. Hospice offers state-of-the-art palliative care using advanced technologies to prevent or alleviate distressing symptoms. Big Sky employs only licensed and credentialed professionals, including physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech language pathology, social workers, aides, massage therapy, and medical dietitians.
Anyone under the care of a physician in need of home health or hospice services is eligible. At Big Sky Palliative and Hospice, we work to help people of all ages to recuperate and live life to the fullest in the comfort of their home.
Hospice
Enrolling in hospice care early helps the patient have a better quality of life as well as more time for preparations to be made. Hospice care provides planning and support to family members during this time of transition.
Hospice is for anyone living with a type of life-limiting illness. The hospice program is for people of all ages, from infants to the elderly, who are not seeking aggressive, curative treatment. Hospice is best when elected early as the patient, family and caregivers receive the help and support they need. Hospice is not a final choice or decision. Patients are free to leave the program at any time.
Hospice is designed to support quality of life. When the burden of treatment outweighs the benefit and side effects of treatment, it might be time to consider hospice.
A diagnosis is the illness that is causing the symptoms the patient is experiencing. A prognosis is a prediction about how the illness will progress with an estimated timeline for changes.
According the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 13% of people on hospice lived beyond 6 months. 50% of patients will pass within three weeks.