[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 42, Volume 2]

[Revised as of October 1, 2005]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 42CFR418.204]



[Page 927]

 

                         TITLE 42--PUBLIC HEALTH

 

                    CHAPTER IV--CENTERS FOR MEDICARE

                          & MEDICAID SERVICES,

                        DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

                             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 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]