Frequently Asked Questions

Topics

• Hospice Care
• Billing and Insurance

Hospice Care FAQ

What is the goal of hospice care?
To provide care to alleviate pain and symptoms that can occur at the end of life. Hospice care enables the patient, family and caregivers to focus on living each day to the fullest.

How long has CNS Hospice provided services?
CNS Hospice was founded in 1974 (then called Hospice of DuPage) and is one of the oldest hospices in Illinois. The hospice movement began in the US in the early 1970s. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, a pioneer in the field of death and dying, was a member of our first Board of Directors.

What geographical area does CNS Hospice serve?
CNS Hospice serves DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Will, McHenry and western Cook counties in northern Illinois.

Where do Hospice caregivers see patients?
Hospice caregivers visit patients in private homes, skilled nursing facilities and retirement communities.

What services does CNS Hospice provide?
CNS Hospice is a full-service hospice. Patients--from adults to infants--receive specialized care from an interdisciplinary team, including a medical director, patient care manager, RN, CNA, social worker, chaplain and a trained volunteer. The team follows an individualized care plan that meets the physical, emotional, psychosocial and spiritual needs of the patient and family.

What if the primary diagnosis is not cancer?
Patients with any disease are eligible for hospice when their physician certifies a limited life expectancy and there are no further plans for curative treatment.

If the pain of an illness becomes too great, does Hospice do anything to hasten death?
Absolutely not! Through our expertise in pain and symptom management, as well as emotional, psychological, social, and spiritual support, we are very skilled in helping our patients find the relief they need.

If a patient, family or caregiver is comfortable with death and dying, why would they need hospice care?
No matter how comfortable one is with death and dying, most people find the specialized knowledge, compassionate care and ongoing support of the interdisciplinary team of CNS Hospice to be invaluable.

What if the patient has no one available to provide care at home?
CNS Hospice will work with the patient and family to find caregivers. The Hospice team visits regularly but does not provide 24-hour custodial care.

Can a patient leave Hospice care?
Patients are free to withdraw at any time. Sometimes new treatments become available, and a patient decides to pursue curative, rather than palliative care. Also, a patient's condition may become stable making Hospice care no longer appropriate. The patient would then be discharged from CNS Hospice.

How is Hospice paid for?
CNS Hospice services are covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most insurance plans. Hospice care is available to anyone who meets the indications for care, regardless of their ability to pay. CNS Hospice has a sliding fee scale which is applied to patients with financial needs.

Does Hospice have trained volunteers?
In addition to the services of a professional staff, CNS Hospice also uses volunteers. All Hospice volunteers must undergo a background check, submit a list of references, be interviewed and complete the Hospice training program. They then can provide support to patients/families/caregivers and perform clerical duties.

CNS Hospice is a not-for-profit agency. What does that mean?
CNS Hospice is committed to giving to the communities it serves. Last year, Hospice provided more than $400,000 worth of free care to patients with financial needs. Hospice never refuses a patient because of inability to pay. (There are not-for-profit, for-profit, and strictly volunteer hospices. Although all hospices work with people facing terminal illness, the philosophy, policies, and services offered can very greatly from one hospice agency to another.)

Do any outside agencies regulate the quality of a Hospice patient's care?
CNS Hospice is licensed by the state and is Medicare/Medicaid certified by the federal government. In addition, our agency has voluntarily sought and received accreditation by the Joint Commission.

What if we're not sure Hospice is appropriate?
To discuss individual cases, call the RNs at the Client Resource Center at (630) 665-7006.

We, at CNS Hospice, believe all patients/families/caregivers who are facing a life-threatening illness have the right to be informed about their options for care. Even when a cure is not possible, CNS Hospice is dedicated to providing care and support.

Billing and Insurance FAQ

For Home Health Patients:

Medicare Patients: CNS Home Health & Hospice (CNS) accepts direct payment (assignment) from Medicare for services provided as long as services provided meet Medicare guidelines. CNS bills Medicare directly and Medicare covers 100% for Home Health services ordered by physician and that meet Medicare coverage guidelines. CNS requires that the patient/caregiver notify our billing department at (630) 665-7000 of any change in insurance coverage, for example, changing from traditional Medicare to Medicare HMO or PPO.

Medicaid Patients: CNS will bill directly for all Medicaid covered Home Health services. CNS requires that the patient/caregiver present a valid Medicaid card to the CNS clinician each month that services are received and notify our billing department for any change in coverage.

Commercial Insurance and HMOs: The patients primary commercial plan will be contacted to verify and determine extent of Home Health coverage. If the primary plan covers Home Health services, CNS will request that we be allowed to obtain direct payment from the insurance carrier and we will bill the insurance company directly. If the primary plan does not accept assignment directly to CNS, the patient/caregiver is responsible for payment of charges and obtaining reimbursement from the carrier. All charges not covered or denied by the primary carrier will be billed directly to the patient with payment expected to CNS. We will make every effort to obtain approval for the patients services and to inform that patient/caregiver of items/services not approved by the carrier. The patient is responsible to CNS for all co-payments and insurance denials to CNS. If the patient has a secondary payor, the patient is responsible for submitting claim for payment directly to the carrier after paying the balance due to CNS.

Private Pay: If the patient is uninsured and accepts Home Health services, the patient will be billed for all charges incurred from provision of skilled services. CNS does offer financial assistance based on need. Information and guidelines can be obtained through our office.

Medical Supplies: CNS provides supplies to our Medicare patients for our clinicians to treat illness/injury and meet the patient's needs during a skilled visit. CNS utilizes an approved supply list and any non-list supplies requested by the patient or caregiver must be paid by the patient directly to the supply company. Medicaid and Commercial Insurance must obtain supplies through an approved vendor of the payor.

For Hospice patients:

Medicare/Medicaid Patients: CNS Home Health & Hospice (CNS) accepts direct payment (assignment) from Medicare for hospice services provided they meet the Medicare guidelines. CNS bills Medicare directly covering 100% of the necessary hospice staff visits, durable medical equipment and medications related to the terminal illness as approved by the hospice team. For a more detailed explanation, patients can also refer to the blue sheet in your patient folder labeled “Explanation of Your Medicare/Medicaid Hospice Benefit.”

Commercial Insurance and HMOs: The patients primary commercial plan will be contacted to verify and determine extent of hospice coverage. If the primary plan covers Hospice services, CNS will request that the patient allow us to obtain direct payment from the insurance carrier and we will bill the insurance company directly. If the primary plan does not accept assignment directly to CNS, the patient is responsible for payment of charges and obtaining reimbursement from the insurance provider. All charges not covered or denied by the primary carrier will be billed directly to the patient with payment expected to CNS. The patient is responsible to CNS for all co-payments and insurance denials to CNS. If the patients has a secondary payor, the patient is responsible for submitting a claim for payment directly to the carrier after paying any balance due to CNS.

Private Pay: If a patient is uninsured and accepts Hospice services, the patient will be billed for all charges incurred from provision of skilled services. CNS does offer financial assistance based on need. Information and guidelines can be obtained through the CNS office.

Medical Supplies: CNS provides supplies to our Medicare patients for our clinicians to use to treat illness/injury and meet the patient's needs during a skilled visit. CNS utilizes a supply list and any non-list supplies requested by the patient or caregiver must be paid directly by the patient/caregiver directly to the supply company selected. Medicaid and Commercial Insured must obtain supplies through an approved vendor of their payor.

Need more information or have an additional question?
Please call our Central Intake Department at (630) 665-7006.