Palliative Care
What is palliative care?
Palliative care is specialized medical care for
patients with serious illnesses. This type of care
focuses on providing relief from the symptoms
and stress of an illness. The goal is to improve
quality of life for both the patient and the
patient’s family. Palliative care is provided by a
specially trained team that works together with
a patient’s primary care practitioner to provide
an extra layer of support. Palliative care is based
on the needs of the patient, not on the patient’s
prognosis. It is appropriate at any age and
during any stage of a serious illness, and can be
provided along with curative treatment.
Where can palliative care/services be provided??
Palliative care services can be provided in a
variety of settings, including, but not limited to,
a patient’s home, clinic, physician’s office, long-term
care facility, and assisted living community.
What is the difference between ACHC Palliative Care Accreditation and the ACHC Distinction in Palliative Care offered for home health, hospice, and private duty providers?
Palliative Care Accreditation offers recognition
for organizations with a well-developed,
active palliative care program that provides
care to patients who need chronic symptom
management. Accreditation is available for
community-based palliative care services.
For home health, hospice, and private duty
agencies accredited by ACHC, a Distinction in
Palliative Care is available to recognize palliative
care delivered as a bridge to other services.
What is the benefit of earning Palliative Care Accreditation?
Earning ACHC Palliative Care Accreditation
validates the quality of your services, which
can strengthen trust and confidence in your
organization and set your business apart
from competitors.
Are virtual surveys available?
Virtual surveys for Palliative Care Accreditation are available.
For an initial survey, how many patients does the palliative care program need?
The program needs to have provided care to five
patients, with at least three of those patients on
service at the time of the survey.
What is the minimum number of patient files that the Surveyor will review?
The minimum number of files that will be
reviewed is five.
Are there any federal or Medicare rules that the palliative care program must follow?
No. Palliative Care Accreditation is non-deemed.
There are no Medicare rules, but there are the
Clinical Practice Guidelines for Quality Palliative
Care developed by the National Consensus
Project for Quality Palliative Care, on which the
ACHC Standards are based.
How is palliative care different from hospice care?
The hospice Medicare benefit requires a
physician to certify that a patient has a life
expectancy of six months or less and is forgoing
curative treatment. Palliative care does not
have such limitations. Palliative care provides
specialized services for patients with serious
illnesses, regardless of age or prognosis.It can be provided along with curative
treatment. Patient eligibility criteria are
established by the program.
Can a patient receive palliative care and hospice care at the same time?
No. Hospice care is palliative care and the
intent is that once a patient is appropriate or
ready for hospice care, they are referred to a
hospice provider.
Who can receive palliative care services?
Any individual who meets the palliative care
program’s eligibility criteria, regardless of age or
prognosis, can receive palliative care services.
Who can provide palliative care?
Palliative care is provided by a specially trained
team that works with a patient’s primary care
practitioner to provide an extra layer of support
and comfort, focusing on medical, physical,
intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual
needs of the patient. It can be provided along
with curative treatment. Clinical palliative
care services are provided by a physician and
advanced practice providers, such as physician
assistants, advanced practice Registered Nurses,
and clinical nurse specialists.
Is there a full Medicare benefit for palliative care like there is for home health and hospice?
No. There is no full Medicare benefit at this time
for palliative care. However, Medicare Part B, as
well as some Medicaid programs and private
insurance providers, may cover certain services
related to palliative care, such as visits from
physicians or advanced practice clinicians.
What care/services does palliative care provide?
Palliative care provides direct care to patients
using a multidisciplinary approach. Care focuses
on relieving symptoms and stress to improve
quality of life for patients and their families.
Additional care/service is determined by the
palliative care program.
Is state licensure required?
The agency providing palliative care needs to
be appropriately licensed per state regulations.
If the state requires a separate license for a
palliative care program, then a license would also
be required.
How many days will a survey last?
The survey is an additional one-day survey.
What is the accreditation cycle?
The accreditation cycle is three years.