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Physician outlines Medicare hospice eligibility, symptom care and family guidance
Summary
At a caregiver presentation, Dr. Sharma of CIVA Hospice explained hospice eligibility under Medicare, how hospice teams manage nutrition, pain medicines and chronic-medication adjustments, and strategies staff use to support families and caregivers.
Dr. Sharma, a physician with CIVA Hospice, described how the Medicare hospice benefit works and what families can expect when a patient elects hospice care.
"The hospice Medicare benefit is a benefit that is elected by the Medicare participant for end of life care for, wherever they call home," Dr. Sharma said, explaining the two formal requirements: a physician’s determination that the patient has a prognosis of about six months or less and the patient’s (or a surrogate’s) election of the benefit.
She said CIVA Hospice emphasizes clinical availability and proactive care planning. "I work full time for CIVA Hospice. I don't work anywhere else. And so then I am available to the clinicians, patients, and families, almost 24/7, but truly during business hours," Dr. Sharma said, noting the agency’s clinical staff includes two full-time nurse practitioners plus several per-diem nurse practitioners and part-time physicians who support field clinicians and patients.
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