Dad is in the hospital with pneumonia, which means we have stopped the Tarceva. We want to start it up again as soon as he is home and off the antibiotic. We can bring him home more quickly if we sign up for hospice now (he can't walk now and my mom can't care for him by herself). The Tarceva is our last defense; if it doesn't work, he doesn't want to try anything else.
He's only taken it for two weeks so it hasn't really had a chance to work.
If we start hospice, I know the Medicare coverage changes from regular benefits to hospice benefits.
Does that mean they will no longer pay for the Tarceva? I can't reach anyone today/this weekend because of the holiday so was hoping someone out there would have an idea.
We're hoping to get him home asap.
Thanks much.
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Is Tarceva covered by Medicare while in hospice?
- By dwareham
- Posted July 3, 2009 at 3:11 pm · 4 replies
- In Non-small cell lung cancer - Stage IV
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- By scared1
- Posted July 3, 2009 at 3:41 pm
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From what I understand Hospice won't take patients who are getting any kind of treatment.
- By dwareham
- Posted July 3, 2009 at 5:47 pm
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Yes, usually that is the case. Our hospice center is really good about allowing patients to fight while also helping the family prepare. So they're on board.
- By sheilake
- Posted July 5, 2009 at 1:43 am
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I had several discussions with Hospice about this topic while caring for my mother last year. The assumption is on hospice that you are preparing for death and only doing palliative care...not trying to elongate life. Tarceva is expensive and Medicare pays Hospice about $5,000 a month to care for a patient. Thus Tarceva would might "break the bank" for a Hospice provider.
I would ask Hospice about it...and talk about it as palliative care. (Tarceva might help delay brain and liver mets.) My hunch is that they will say no...that your Dad should be on Medicare if you want to prolong life via Tarceva.
Good luck,
Sheila
- By jr1
- Posted July 5, 2009 at 9:52 pm
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I just asked a Hospic nurse that same question this past week and she told me that you have to give up trying to prolong your life with drugs like more cancer treatments. You are given medicine to keep you comfortable with normal medical problems, but cancer treatments are not covered.
I would call Hospic directly and asked them rather than depending on our non professional opinions.
Janet
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