Certified Hospice and Palliative Assistant (CHPNA) Practice Test

What is a requirement for Medicare-certified hospice programs?

1. They can selectively provide services

2. All patients must receive services available to Medicare beneficiaries

3. They are not required to provide pain management

4. They can refuse patients if the insurance does not pay

The correct answer is: All patients must receive services available to Medicare beneficiaries

Medicare-certified hospice programs are required to offer a comprehensive range of services to all patients who are eligible. This requirement ensures that patients receiving hospice care have access to the full spectrum of support available under Medicare, which includes medical care, pain management, emotional support, and assistance with activities of daily living. The importance of this requirement lies in the goal of hospice care: to provide holistic support to individuals facing terminal illnesses and their families, respecting their wishes and improving their quality of life during their final stages. By mandating that all patients receive the same types of services, Medicare promotes equity in access to care, ensuring that every individual, regardless of their specific circumstances, benefits from the necessary resources and interventions. The other choices reflect misunderstandings of hospice care policies. Selecting services could lead to unequal care, and pain management is a critical component of hospice services, which specifically focuses on alleviating discomfort. Additionally, hospice programs cannot refuse to admit patients based on insurance payment status, as that would violate principles of access to care established within these programs.