Certified Hospice and Palliative Assistant (CHPNA) Practice Test

What is required for Medicare hospice benefit recertifications?

1. A face-to-face encounter with a hospice physician or NP

2. Written consent from the patient

3. A review of the patient's medical history

4. A decrease in symptom severity

The correct answer is: A face-to-face encounter with a hospice physician or NP

A face-to-face encounter with a hospice physician or nurse practitioner is indeed a requirement for the recertification of the Medicare hospice benefit. This encounter is critical as it ensures that a healthcare professional evaluates the patient's condition directly, confirming their ongoing eligibility for hospice care based on the prognosis of a terminal illness. The visit is meant to assess the patient's needs and the effectiveness of the current care plan. This requirement enhances the quality of hospice care by ensuring that patients receive appropriate and timely interventions as their conditions evolve. It also serves to validate that the patient remains in a terminal stage of illness, which meets the criteria established by Medicare for continued hospice benefits. Other options, while relevant to the overall hospice process, do not fulfill the specific criteria set forth by Medicare concerning recertifications of the hospice benefit.