Home Health and Hospice
Medicare
Benefit Policy Manual (CMS Pub. 100-02, Ch.9 §10) 
A beneficiary may receive both hospice and home health services when the home health services are unrelated to the terminal diagnosis for which hospice care is elected.
Documentation Tips
Documentation in both the home health and hospice medical records must clearly show that the terminal diagnosis is not related to the illness/injury for which home health care is necessary (e.g., Terminal diagnosis is cancer of the breast with no metastasis. The beneficiary tripped over the family pet, fell, and broke her hip. Home health is providing the beneficiary with physical therapy for the fractured hip. The physician ordered the care under a home health plan of care).
Page last updated: March 20, 2008
