Hospice Discharge Realities

Why Some Seriously Ill Patients Are Discharged From Hospice Care For Living Too Long

The author's husband, Mike Salmon, was kicked out of hospice for dying too slowly due to a potentially fatal aortic aneurysm and sepsis, and a potentially lethal fix. Hospice agencies manage care for patients expected to die within six months and aim to help families make terminally ill patients comfortable at home. However, each year, about 6% of patients are removed from hospice due to their stabilized or improved health, which can be devastating for patients with serious chronic illnesses. The author's experiences with hospice showed surprising lessons about how families can manage care. Despite Medicare setting basic standards for the hospice agencies it reimburses, some agencies are understaffed or poorly run, and others are poorly run. The article suggests that patients or caregivers should call the top-rated agencies for services that provide the services they need.