Open Access Philosophy

Open Access is a new model for hospice care that supports and pays for a selected group of treatments that palliate symptoms related to a terminal illness.

Open Access dovetails hospice care with patients’ other treatments, allowing best practice end-of-life care for a much longer period of time. These treatments do not affect a patient’s hospice eligibility.  The addition of hospice services is associated with a high level of patient and family satisfaction.

Summer 2012 Newsletter

Winter 2012 Newsletter

Fall 2011 Newsletter

Physician Reimbursement Information

Regarding Hospice Medicare/Medi-Cal Benefit

When your patient elects the Hospice Benefit, you are reimbursed for your services. Here is how the reimbursement works:

As your patient makes the transition from curative to palliative care, Hospice of Santa Cruz County can help with our pre-admission evaluation service.

A member of our staff is available to meet with patients who you believe are appropriate for hospice services or who could benefit from our Transitions program. We can evaluate and provide education to your patients in the comfort of their home, in the hospital or skilled nursing facility, or in your office suite. There is no fee for this service.

Hospice care is appropriate for patients with a life-limiting illness and a prognosis of six months or less, who are aware of their situation and agreeable to receiving palliative care.  Physicians must certify that their patient is eligible and has expressed interest in receiving hospice care.

Please print out the appropriate Certification Form and fax it to (831) 430-9272.
If you have a problem opening the forms, call us at (831) 430-3000.

Click on the appropriate form(s) below to view and print:

Patients who have been diagnosed with a progressive illness or end stage disease but are not yet ready for hospice care may benefit from Transitions care.  Transitions is appropriate for patients with:

• Metastatic disease with active treatment, curative or palliative
• Prognosis greater than 6 months
• End Stage Diseases (including heart, lung, liver, kidney, etc.)

Potential hospice patients may be identified by a diagnosis, symptoms, or a combination of both. The following sections are meant as a guide to help determine if a patient is hospice appropriate.  Please call Admissions at (831) 430-3000 to discuss eligibility.  If your patient does not meet Hospice Medicare Criteria, they may be eligible for our Transitions Program. 

Signs and Symptoms to Look For

May include one, or a combination of the following:

Fax Referrals

To refer by fax, please download our Fax Referral Form and send to (831)430-9271.

Download Adobe Acrobat Reader to your computer.

Telephone Referrals for Hospice

To refer by phone, please contact the Hospice of Santa Cruz County Admissions Department at (831)430-3000.

Please provide the following information:

From our Medical Directors

As physicians, we are dedicated to maintaining the health and vitality of our patients. Yet, when all medical options have been explored, continuing care must focus on optimizing the quality of life and minimizing a patient’s discomfort. That’s where hospice care comes in.