Today we signed up for hospice care. If we had known how quick it is and how much they cover, we would have done it sooner. There is no limit to the amount of time Bill can have care. Medicare covers 100% of the cost and even covers the cost of his medications and his oxygen. He will have visits twice a week and will have a home health care worker to bathe him and help with some of the basics of personal care.

The doctor had briefly mentioned hospice when we were in his office in June, but he didn't say what they would do, nor did he mention that they would provide medication and oxygen. After talking with a friend yesterday about her experiences with her mother, I initiated getting it started.

Medicare is the Problem

I talked with Dr. D's nurse today about the lack of physical therapy and the need for oxygen or some help with Bill's breathing. She said that Medicare will not allow him to have oxygen until his resting blood oxygen level is 88%. She says she can do nothing to obtain oxygen for him at this point. We may be too far past the broken back to qualify for physical therapy, so we still seek answers.