Library: Policy

317:30-5-532. Coverage for children

Revised 1-6-11

Hospice is palliative and/or comfort care provided to the member and his/her family when a physician certifies that the member has a terminal illness and has a life expectancy of six months or less. A hospice program offers palliative and supportive care to meet the special needs arising out of the physical, emotional and spiritual stresses which are experienced during the final stages of illness and death. Hospice services must be related to the palliation and management of the member's illness, symptom control, or to enable the individual to maintain activities of daily living and basic functional skills.

(1) Payment is made for home based hospice services for terminally ill individuals with a life expectancy of six months or less when the member and/or family has elected hospice benefits. Hospice services are available to eligible members without forgoing any other service to which the member is entitled under SoonerCare for curative treatment of the terminal illness. Once the member has elected hospice care, the hospice medical team assumes responsibility for the member's medical care for the terminal illness in the home environment. Hospice providers are not responsible for curative treatments for members that elect such services while on hospice. Hospice care includes nursing care, physician services, medical equipment and supplies, drugs for symptom control and pain relief, home health aide and personal care, physical, occupational and/or speech therapy, medical social services, dietary counseling and grief and bereavement counseling to the member and/or family. Services must be prior authorized.
(2) Hospice care is available for two 90-day periods and an unlimited number of 60-day periods during the remainder of the member's lifetime. Beginning January 1, 2011, a hospice physician or nurse practitioner must have a face to face encounter with the member to determine if the member's terminal illness necessitates continuing hospice care services. The encounter must take place prior to the 180th day recertification and each subsequent recertification thereafter; and attests that such visit took place. The member and/or the family may voluntarily terminate hospice services. Hospice services must be reasonable and necessary for the palliation or management of a terminal illness or related conditions. A certification that the individual is terminally ill must be completed by the member's attending physician or the Medical Director of an Interdisciplinary Group. Nurse practitioners serving as the attending physician may not certify the terminal illness; however, effective January 1, 2011, nurse practitioners may re-certify the terminal illness.
(3) Services must be prior authorized. A written plan of care must be established before services are provided. The plan of care should be submitted with the prior authorization request.