How to Request Inpatient Hospice or Crisis Care

What to have in front of you

• The notice, bill, decision, or discharge paperwork connected to the problem
• The person’s full name, date of birth, address, insurance information, and identification
• A short timeline with dates, names, phone calls, and what changed
• Copies of medical, school, financial, or care records that directly support the request

What to say when someone answers

“Symptoms are not controlled with the current plan. I need a nurse assessment now and an explanation of whether continuous home care or general inpatient care is appropriate.”

Small but useful: Write down the person’s name, the date, the exact next step, and when you should call again.

Do this in order

1. 1

   Give the symptom, severity, onset, medication doses and times, and what has failed.

2. 2

   Ask the on-call nurse for a specific arrival or callback time and what to do meanwhile.

3. 3

   Ask whether the hospice can arrange general inpatient care and which contracted facility has a bed.

4. 4

   Call 911 for immediate danger, but tell responders the person is on hospice and contact the hospice at the same time when possible.

What happens next

The hospice may change medications, send a nurse, begin continuous home care during a crisis, or arrange short-term inpatient symptom management.