CullmanTimes.com - Cullman, Alabama

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May 6, 2009

Hospice part of health solution

There’s a lot about health care reform in the news these days. Barack Obama’s call for an overhaul of our nation’s health care system has triggered a national debate on what works and what doesn’t, including how Medicare dollars are spent. It seems like an appropriate time to highlight a part of our health care sector that works, specifically hospice.

Hospice is part of the solution for patients and families, and as a model of cost-efficient and high-quality health care. These programs provide invaluable services and care by enhancing the quality of life for the terminally ill, and by keeping them in the place that they consider home.

In addition, hospice is actually a cost saver for Medicare. A 2007 independent Duke University study found that it reduced Medicare costs by $2,300 per patient, amounting to $2 billion in savings a year.

Many people believe a misconception that hospice is only available for the last few days of life. The Hospice benefit covered by Medicare, Medicaid and many private insurances is a benefit covering at least 6 months and more of in-home care when there is a diagnosis of a terminal illness. There is no cost to families.

Hospice has also been found to be the kind of high-quality care that patients and families want, with more than 98% of served families willing to recommend hospice to others. Last year, more than 1.4 million patients and their family caregivers chose the compassionate end-of-life care found through hospice.

This health care debate will be with us for some time, so it’s important to know what works. Hospice is part of the solution.

Kellie Britton

Director of Community Education

Omega Hospice

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