Levels of Care, Routine Home Care Minimum Contacts and the Inpatient Limit

Defines the four levels of hospice care (routine home care, continuous home care, inpatient respite care and general inpatient care, 42 CFR §418.302(b)); sets the Florida minimum for routine home care of a weekly telephone contact and a biweekly registered nurse visit (Rule 59A-38.005(1)(c), F.A.C.); applies Florida’s rule that inpatient care is a short-term adjunct used only for pain control, symptom management or respite and that inpatient days for all patients in any 12-month period may not exceed 20 percent of all hospice days (s. 400.609(4), F.S.); tracks the separate Medicare 20 percent inpatient limit; and sets how each level is ordered, documented and reviewed.