If while on hospice a Medicare beneficiary is in need of care or hospitalization for treatment that is not related to hospice service, Medicare will not pay for this treatment.

If while on hospice a Medicare beneficiary is in need of care or hospitalization for treatment that is not related to hospice service, Medicare will not pay for this treatment.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not applicable
• D. Not stated

Answer: (B)

Medicare hospice care covers services tied to the terminal illness and comfort-focused needs, not curative treatments for the condition. But if a patient on hospice needs care or hospitalization for something unrelated to the terminal condition, Medicare can cover those non-hospice services under standard Medicare benefits (Part A or Part B). The non-hospice care is billed separately from the hospice benefits, and coverage continues just as it would for someone not on hospice. So the statement that Medicare will not pay for non-hospice treatment is not correct.

Medicare hospice care covers services tied to the terminal illness and comfort-focused needs, not curative treatments for the condition. But if a patient on hospice needs care or hospitalization for something unrelated to the terminal condition, Medicare can cover those non-hospice services under standard Medicare benefits (Part A or Part B). The non-hospice care is billed separately from the hospice benefits, and coverage continues just as it would for someone not on hospice. So the statement that Medicare will not pay for non-hospice treatment is not correct.