Beneficiary's Hospice Period Count

This variable is contained in the following files:

SAS Name

BENE_HOSPC_PRD_CNT

The count of the number of hospice period trailers present for the beneficiary's record.

Medicare covers hospice benefit periods which may consist of 2 initial 90 day periods followed by an unlimited number of 60 day periods.

Hospice benefits are generally in lieu of standard Part A hospital benefits for treating the terminal condition.

Comments

Medicare payments are described in detail in a series of Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) documents called “Payment Basics” (see: http://www.medpac.gov/payment_basics.cfm).

Also in the Medicare Learning Network (MLN) “Payment System Fact Sheet Series” (see: http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-NetworkMLN/MLNProducts/MLN-Publications.html).

Source: NCH