Americare’s “Bridge Program”
When curative treatment is no longer elected, Hospice enables the patient and family to maintain control of their lives by receiving palliative (comfort) care in the home or an extended care facility.
If curative treatment is still desired, the Hospice team will be able to provide comfort care through Americare’s Bridge Program. The following are the differences between Americare’s Bridge Program and the Hospice benefits.
| Home Health Bridge Program | Hospice Program |
| Life limiting illness | Prognosis of 6 months or less if the terminal diagnosis were to run its normal course |
| Patients receiving chemotherapy, radiation, dialysis, etc may be appropriate. | Focus is on comfort measures (palliative/symptom control). Curative therapy is not appropriate at this point. |
Reimbursement to Bridge Program Covers:
How are other Needed Services and Products Covered? Billed through usual method as prior to being admitted to the Bridge Program. |
Reimbursement to Hospice Covers:
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| Patient must be considered Homebound. | Patient does not need to be homebound |
| Home health may not be provided in a long term care facility. | Hospice may be provided wherever the patient resides – home or nursing facility. |
