Respite care question

They are correct. The Medicare Conditions of Participation stipulate that there must be an RN available to provide care 24/7 for BOTH respite and GIP. Seems silly when obviously patients don't have an RN in the home situation except for the hospice staff that are oncall 24/7 and they remain available but that's the rule! You must have a contract with the facility for this level of care as well.

Ok, I have a question about respite care. I live and work at a hospice in Georgia. We have a home patient (COPD) who is in need of some respite care. A local SNF is willing to take her but they say if they are to do respite care for a hospice patient they need to staff an RN 24 hours a day while she is there in order for hospice to be reimbursed. I knew that when we have a GIP patient the facility needs to have an RN present at all times but does the same apply for respite? This is a patient who lives alone and normally is able to do for herself. Due to a recent fall she is wanting to go to the SNF for respite in order to get some rest. She believes once she gets to rest she'll be able to go back home and continue care herself. Can't seem to get a solid black/white answer from Corporate. My only goal at this point is to help this patient.

Any input from others would certainly be appreciated.

Thanks!

You may want to consider continuous care for crisis intervention, and allow you patient to rest at home. Your patient is blessed to have you advocating for her. Best wishes!