[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 42, Volume 2]
[Revised as of October 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 42CFR418.204]

[Page 787-788]
 
                         TITLE 42--PUBLIC HEALTH
 
                             HUMAN SERVICES
 
PART 418--HOSPICE CARE--Table of Contents
 
                       Subpart F--Covered Services
 
Sec. 418.204  Special coverage requirements.

    (a) Periods of crisis. Nursing care may be covered on a continuous 
basis for as much as 24 hours a day during periods of crisis as 
necessary to maintain an individual at home. Either homemaker or home 
health aide services or both may be covered on a 24-hour continuous 
basis during periods of crisis but

[[Page 788]]

care during these periods must be predominantly nursing care. A period 
of crisis is a period in which the individual requires continuous care 
to achieve palliation or management of acute medical symptoms.
    (b) Respite care. (1) Respite care is short-term inpatient care 
provided to the individual only when necessary to relieve the family 
members or other persons caring for the individual.
    (2) Respite care may be provided only on an occasional basis and may 
not be reimbursed for more than five consecutive days at a time.
    (c) Bereavement counseling. Bereavement counseling is a required 
hospice service but it is not reimbursable.

[48 FR 56026, Dec. 16, 1983, as amended at 55 FR 50835, Dec. 11, 1990]