Palliative care within hospice

Caritas provides palliative, comfort-focused care for patients enrolled in hospice. It does not currently offer a separate palliative-care program alongside curative treatment.

Hospice eligibility is individualized and requires clinical review and physician certification. If a patient enrolls, the hospice plan of care can include palliative symptom management shaped around the patient’s diagnosis, comfort needs, and goals; an inquiry or referral does not guarantee eligibility or admission.

For an eligible patient who elects hospice, the Medicare hospice benefit generally covers services, medications, supplies, and equipment related to the terminal illness and included in the individualized hospice plan of care. Coverage depends on the patient’s circumstances, so Caritas reviews benefits during the referral process.