Table 2.

Summary of Survey Results by Five Health Plans

HEALTH PLANS	A	B	C	D	E
Managed care plan formal contract with hospices	Yes (unable to reveal hospice names)	Yes, provided the names of eight hospices	Yes (unable to reveal hospice names)	Yes, provided the names of six hospices	Yes (unable to provide the hospice names since every medical group has its own contracted hospice.)
Hospice services requiring a prior approval: □Services from nurses □Chaplains’ visits □Nurses’ visits □Art therapy □Social work visits □Short-term inpatient care in a hospital, SNF or hospice inpatient facility □Respite inpatient care to relieve caregivers □Continuous home care provided in the patient’s home for short-term pain or symptom management □Intravenous therapy □Transfusions □Tube feeding (including nasogastric and other enteral feedings) □Hyperdermclysis □Total parenteral nutrition or TPN □Respiratory therapy □Radiation therapy □Chemotherapy □Palliative sedation □Hospitalization for conditions not related to the hospice diagnosis, (e.g., leg broken from falling)	Yes (but home health services only) Do not cover Yes Do not cover Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes	No Do not cover do not cover Depends on line of business (falls under Mental Health Services) Yes (Referral is requested from physician) Yes (length of stay depends on the plan) Yes (only some plans; other plans do not cover) Yes (only when the plan covers the service) No No (limitations exist) No No No Yes (only when DME/ respiratory system is required) No (but, prior approval required for 3D radiation therapy) Yes Yes No	Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No	Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No	Yes No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes
Restrictions to length of stay to receive hospice care	No limit	15 different plans with different requirements	No limit	12 months or less	100 days or less