Respite Care

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 at home.

• Respite care is for short term caregiver relief, so there needs to be a caregiver involved in the patient’s care.
• It is up to the hospice provider’s discretion to determine the merit of the caregiver’s need.
• More than one respite period (of no more than 5 days each) is allowable in a single billing period
• Respite care may not be reimbursed for more than five consecutive days at a time, including the date of admission but not including the date of discharge.
• Respite Care can be used "occasionally" and is not limited to a benefit period

Some examples for provision of respite care may include:

• The caregiver is physically and emotionally exhausted from caring 24/7 for the patient and requires a break.
• The caregiver would like to attend a family event, such as a wedding, graduation, or other event.
• The caregiver is ill and needs a break from patient care to recover
• After the first two 90-day certification periods, the certification periods change to 60 days each, which allows for respite care for a maximum of 5 days in a 60-day period.
• Medicare and Medicaid Hospice cover respite care. Connecticut Hospice accepts private insurance for respite care through Anthem

• Any person authorized to discuss the patient’s plan of care can request respite care.  It should be discussed with the patients RN case manager and or social worker.
• Respite can be arranged with Connecticut Hospice intake department by an RN case manager or social worker.

• Respite care patients are provided with 24-hour care by on-site, specialized professionals. 
• Respite care patients are entitled to ALL services a hospice benefit patient receives.
• A patient can transition from respite care to inpatient hospice, but they must have active, unmanaged symptoms that make them eligible for the higher level of hospice care.
• A patient cannot switch to palliative care if in respite care since he or she has to revoke the hospice benefit if seeking treatment.