How does palliative care differ from hospice?
Palliative care is appropriate at any stage of serious illness.
Hospice care is a Medicare benefit provided to patients with terminal illness or when prognosis is likely less than 6 months and the goals of care have shifted toward symptom management rather than life-prolonging therapies.
The broad domains of palliative care are still used, but the structure of care is focused on symptom relief and bereavement needs as patients’ approach end of life.