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Frequently Asked Questions



Q. When is hospice appropriate?
A. Hospice care becomes an appropriate method of care when a patient has reached the last phases of a life-limiting illness or condition. The subject of hospice care can be addressed at any time as the physician and patient discuss treatment options. When a patient chooses hospice, they are choosing comfort care that focuses on pain management and symptom control, as well as emotional and psychosocial support for both patient and family, in place of aggressive curative measures.
Q. What if our physician doesn't know about hospice?
A. Most physicians know about hospice. However, if you physician would like more information, he/she may call us at 866-694-4848 or email us at info@carishealthcare.com.
Q. Who pays for hospice services?
A. Caris is a state licensed Medicare certified hospice provider. Caris accepts the following insurance providers:
  • United Healthcare
  • Medicare
  • Tenncare/Medicaid
  • Blue Cross / Blue Shield
  • Cigna
  • Tricare / Champus
  • Veterans Administration / VA
  • Humana
* Many other insurance plans provide hospice benefits and Caris can make arrangements with them as needed.
Q. Can I keep my regular doctor?
A. Absolutely. Your doctor may maintain the role of primary care physician, approving admission to the program, delivery of services and changes in the plan of care. Your Caris hospice team members will work closely with your doctor in administering your care. Caris works as an extension of, not in place of, the patient's attending physician. Our medical doctor is also available to help patients who do not have a primary care physician.
Q. When does hospice care stop?
A. Hospice care is provided as long as the patient and family need it. Caris also provides bereavement care for the family after death. Medicare requires hospice agencies to provide thirteen months of bereavement. Caris will provide bereavement services for as long as required, without regard for any time limit.

A person who elects hospice can stop hospice services at any time and for any reason. It is important that individuals communicate with Caris about their condition and expectations, especially if these expectations change.
Q. Can a Caris patient who shows signs of recovery be returned to regular medical treatment?
A. Certainly. The patient always has this option. If improvement in the condition occurs and the disease seems to be in remission, the patient can be discharged voluntarily from hospice and return to aggressive therapy or go on about his/her daily life. If a discharged patient should later need to return to hospice care, Medicare and most private insurance companies will allow the patient's remaining benefit to be used.
Q. Where is hospice care administered?
A. Caris provides the majority of its care in a patient's home, with family and friends acting as caregivers. If there is no residence, the agency can arrange care in nursing homes or other types of residential facilities. If a patient requires inpatient care in order to address severe symptoms or to provide respite for a caregiver, we will arrange that for the patient. The cost of inpatient care is covered by Medicare, and many private insurance plans also pay for this service.
Q. Is there special equipment or changes I have to make in my home before hospice care begins?
A. Caris will assess your needs, recommend any necessary equipment and help make arrangements to obtain it. In most cases, required medical equipment is included at no charge as part of our service to you.
Q. How many family members or friends does it take to care for a patient at home?
A. There is no set number. One of the first things that Caris will do is prepare an individualized care plan that will meet the needs and goals of the patient and family. Our staff members visit regularly and are always accessible to answer questions and provide support
Q. How difficult is caring for a dying loved one at home?
A. It is never easy and sometimes can be quite difficult. At the end of a long, progressive illness, nights especially can be very long, lonely and frightening. Caris has staff available around the clock to consult with the family and assist you as needed.
Q. How does Caris manage pain?
A. Our registered nurses and doctors are highly experienced in hospice and palliative care. They work diligently to remain current on the latest and most effective medications and devices for pain and symptom relief. We also believe that emotional and spiritual pains are just as real and in need of attention as physical pain, so we address these as well. Counselors, including personal counselors, are available to assist family members as well as patients.
Q. Does hospice do anything to make death come sooner?
A. No. Hospice does nothing either to speed up or slow down the dying process. Just as doctors and nurses lend support and expertise during the time of childbirth, so hospice provides its presence and specialized knowledge during the normal progression of the dying process.
Q. Will medications prevent the patient from being able to talk or know what is happening?
A. It is our goal to help patients be as comfortable and alert as they desire. By constantly consulting with the patient, caregivers and family, Caris has been very successful in reaching this goal.
Q. What if I do not have insurance or enough personal income to pay for services?
A. While our services are limited to those patients covered by Medicare, TennCare/Medicaid, VA/Tri-Care, private insurance or direct pay, no one is ever denied hospice care due to inability to pay. Should you be in that situation, we will be happy to assist you in any way we are able.
Q. Does Caris provide any help to the family after the patient dies?
A. The Medicare Hospice Benefit provides bereavement support for family members and loved ones for a period of 13 months. We provide continuing contact and bereavement support to family members and loved ones as long they need us.
Q. If the patient is eligible for Medicare, will there be any additional expenses to be paid?
A. Medicare covers all services and supplies related to the terminal illness or condition for the hospice patient. Although Medicare does allow the hospice provider to collect a 5% co-pay on medications, Caris NEVER asks for payments of this kind from its Medicare patients.
Q. What if I don't understand what is happening and don't know how to make the right decisions?
A. Caris provides patients and families the information and education they need to make informed decisions about their plan of treatment under the care of their attending physician and our interdisciplinary team. Our Links page on this website would be a good place to begin your research.
Q. Is it true that hospice is where you go when there is "nothing else to be done"?
A. Hospice is the "something more" that can be done for the patient and family when the illness or condition becomes life-limiting. It is a concept based on comfort-oriented care. Referral into hospice is a movement into another mode of therapy which can be a better fit for how the individual chooses to live their life.
Q. Is Caris affiliated with any religious organization or other hospice?
A. No. We are a locally owned and independent organization. We serve the entire community and do not ask or expect patients to adhere to any particular religion or set of beliefs. We accept patients without regard for age, disability, race, color, creed, sex or gender preference.
Q. Is hospice care more expensive than regular care?
A. No. Studies have shown that hospice care is no more expensive than regular care. Frequently it is less expensive than conventional care during the last six months of life. Less high-cost technology is used and family, friends and volunteers provide 90% of the day-to-day care at home. If the patient has Medicare Part A benefit coverage, the Medicare Hospice Benefit, including medications, medical supplies and medical equipment, is provided at no cost
Q. How does Caris use and/or disclose my personal health care information?
A. Caris maintains privacy protection and adheres to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). More information on this can be found in the Notice of Privacy Practices.
Q. What if we have a problem on a week night, weekend or holiday?
A. Help from your Caris team is available on a 24/7/365 basis. We have Registered Nurses on call to address concerns by telephone, or if necessary, with a visit. We will always be there for the patient, the caregivers and the family.
Q. What does the admission process involve?
A. A toll-free phone call to Caris Healthcare at (865) 694-4848 is all that you need to do to start the admission process. One of the first things we will do is answer any questions you and your loved ones have about Caris Healthcare's services. We then contact the patient's physician to make sure the physician agrees that hospice care is appropriate for the patient at this time. One of our admission nurses will then visit the prospective patient and ask important questions about the illness and previous treatment, as well as questions about the home and family situation that would affect care giving. The nurse also will discuss what the patient and family can expect from the hospice, how hospice provides care, the services that are available and information on the illness or condition and its effects that will help prepare the family for the coming days. Medicare and/or other available benefits will be discussed at that time.
Q. How do I refer someone to Caris?
A. A referral can come from the attending physician, a family member, a friend, clergy, a health care provider or even from the patient. You only need to call our office at 1 866 694-4848 to provide your referral.
Q. What if the patient wants to transfer to a different hospice agency?
A. The Medicare hospice patient has the right to transfer from one hospice agency to another once during EACH benefit period without loss of any Medicare hospice benefits. Should a patient decide to transfer a second time during a benefit period, he or she would forfeit the remainder of the current benefit period. However, since the Medicare benefit includes an unlimited number of 60-day periods, the patient would not forfeit his or her total remaining hospice benefit.

The transfer process is very simple, requiring only that the patient or the patient's legal representative write a letter to each hospice agency. The letters need only indicate that the transfer is taking place and the date of the transfer. The letter to the previous agency should also contain a request that the patient's records be transferred to the new hospice agency. The two agencies will then coordinate to ensure that the transfer is completed smoothly and safely.