Medicare Hospice Benefit & Physician Billing

Medicare Part A covers hospice patient expenses and regulates how physicians bill for their services.

For most eligible patients, Medicare pays for hospice 100 percent, including visits by a nurse, physician and other healthcare professionals, as well as therapy, medication and supplies—although certain prescription drugs and additional services such as inpatient respite care may require small out-of-pocket payments.

In most states, Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California) also provides hospice coverage and palliative care, while additional insurance plans, such as traditional HMOs, can supplement healthcare expenses unrelated to a patient’s terminal diagnosis.