Hospice Patient Rights

Hospice Patients have the right to:

1.  To appropriate, compassionate and comprehensive hospice services provided by a team of professionals without discrimination based on race, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, diagnosis or source of payment.
2.  To receive individualized treatment according to a patient plan of care.
3.  To be free from abuse, neglect, exploitation. 
4.  To be afforded privacy during treatment, hygiene and personal care, in correspondence, communication, visitation, financial affairs, and any other hospice service.
5.  To be photographed only with written consent from the patient or patient’s representative.
6.  To voice or file a complaint against the hospice without fear of reprisal.  All complaints will be investigated.
7.  To be fully informed regarding your health status in order to participate in the planning of your care. 
8.  To have an understanding of the availability and access to hospice services and the hospice team.
9.  To be assured the individuals who provide care are qualified through education and experience to carry out the services for which they are responsible.  And to know the name and title of  the individual providing hospice services.
10. To have your privacy respected and all health, social, and financial information treated as confidential.  You may refuse to release medical information to any individual outside of the Company, except in the case of transfer to another agency or health facility, or as required by law, accrediting bodies or third party payment contract.
11. To know that discharge from Hospice will only be if the patient seeks curative treatment or the patient no longer meets the federal and state requirements governing Hospice or the patient elects to discontinue hospice.  
12. To expect recommendations for services, evaluations, and referrals, appropriate to the nature of your illness.
13. To participate in the transfer process if you choose to change to another agency.
14. To be involved in resolving ethical issues or conflicts about care or service.  
15. To be treated with consideration, respect, dignity and individuality.
16. To know that your family or guardian may exercise your rights if you have been judged incompetent by a court of law.
17. To know that Medicare / Medicaid are accepted as payment in full.  
18. To be informed of your financial responsibilities under private insurance or third party payers and to be advised of any changes in the payment expectations, as soon as possible
19. To continuity of services.
20. To select or change your own physician, treatment or agency.
21. To refuse treatments to the extent permitted by law and to be informed about the consequences of such action.
22. To be involved in decisions to withhold resuscitation.
23. To receive information about Advance Directives.  To have Advance Directives honored as permitted by local, state, and federal law.
24. To discontinue hospice care at any time.
25. To refuse to participate in experimental research.
26. To know that a written copy of rates and charges may be requested.