Our hospice has been advised that we may be paying for "unnecessary" meds that shouldn't be covered under the hospice benefit. We have always paid for medications related to the terminal illness and meds for symptom management. Our pharmacy bills are very high. We would like some insight on what meds we really shouldn't be paying for.
Do we limit meds that are are only going to provide relief for symptoms that are directly caused by the terminal illness? What about meds for insomnia?, anxiety? confusion? edema? indigestion?terminal restlessness?
I have always thought that we provide "comfort" meds.
Also, I would like to know how many hospice provides "emergency meds" or "care packages" upon admission that may include Roxanol, ativan and atropine for terminal congestion. If you don't place these in the home upon admission, how do you handle it? Do you wait for the patient to become dysphaic, congested and restless before placing it in the home? We like to have a few meds on hand to provide rapid relief (avoiding waiting to get the meds filled and delivered). All suggestions are appreciated!
Thank you. Thank you!
:heartbeat