All LMHPCO Provider Members are licensed by their respective state departments of health (i.e., in Louisiana, the Department of Health and Hospitals [DHH] and in Mississippi, the State Department of Health [MSDH]) and are certified by Medicare as meeting the Conditions of Participation (CoPs) for reimbursement through the Medicare Hospice Benefit (established by Congress in 1984).
While all licensed and Medicare certified hospice agencies provide the same basic end-of-life care services, each hospice interdisciplinary team (IDT) is a unique provider and has its own collective personality. Thus, consumers are encouraged to discuss their hospice provider options with their physician as well as with different hospice agency representatives serving their particular neighborhood and/or community.
Given the unique nature of the relationship between the hospice agency and the patient and family, it is of utmost importance for the patient, family and hospice agency to establish a comfortable working relationship — a relationship that continues through the patient’s death and family’s bereavement follow-up.
Although the Medicare Hospice Benefits allows consumers to transfer to a different hospice agency once every benefit period, such a change can be very traumatic for patients and families. LMHPCO encourages consumers to interview representatives from several hospice agencies before deciding upon a particular hospice provider for themselves or a loved one.
Consumers with complaints about hospice care and/or services should discuss their complaints and/or concerns with the hospice administrator of their agency. If their complaint and/or concerns are not satisfied, consumers always have the option of contacting the Medicare Complaint Hotline in their state.
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In Louisiana, the Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH):
800-327-3419 or 225-342-2471
www.dhh.state.la.us
In Mississippi, the Mississippi Department of Health (MSDH):
800-227-7308 or 601-576-7326
www.msdh.state.ms.us
For Medicare information, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS):
800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227)
www.cms.hhs.gov/medicaid/services/hospice.asp?
TTY/TDD: 877-486-2048
