Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is a Volunteer Hospice?
2. How is Hospice of Morongo Basin organized?
3. If Hospice of Morongo Basin's services are all
provided free of charge, how does Hospice support itself?
4. What is the Hospice Medicare Benefit?
5. Why should I come into the Hospice office?
6. Where else can I go to find out more?
7. How can I find out if I'm ready for Hospice?
Q1: What is a Volunteer Hospice?
A: A Volunteer Hospice specializes in the volunteer and
bereavement services that are core services of any hospice program. Volunteer hospices in
California are not required to be licensed as they provide no skilled nursing or other
services that the state deems must be licensed. Volunteer hospices are accountable to the
Attorney General. Skilled nursing and other services that require a license are provided by
state licensed and Medicare-certified agencies that are reimbursed for their services by
Medicare and private insurance. Frequently, volunteer hospices and Medicare-certified and
licensed hospices work together in partnership to provide the whole array of hospice
services. Contact your local Medicare-certified and
licensed hospice for further information.
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Q2: How is Hospice of Morongo Basin organized?
A: Hospice of Morongo Basin, a volunteer hospice, is a community based,
independent, private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations to Hospice of Morongo Basin are
tax-deductible. Our Federal Employment Tax Identification number is 95-3759200. We are a
charitable nonprofit incorporated in the State of California, Corporation #1115199.
Incorporated in California as a public benefit corporation in 1982.
Our Board of Directors is made up of both professional and
nonprofessional residents of the community governs Hospice of Morongo Basin. Services are
delivered under the professional leadership of our paid staff.
As a Volunteer Hospice, Hospice of Morongo Basin provides no services for which the State of
California requires a license. We are accountable to the State Attorney General.
We have provided volunteer and bereavement services, free of charge, to patients and
families since 1983.
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Q3: If Hospice of Morongo Basin's services
are all provided free of charge, how does Hospice support itself?
A: Hospice of Morongo Basin depends upon the generous
support of local residents in the form of individual and group donations, memberships, and
memorials, and on private and government grants, bequests, and the income from our Thrift
Shop.
Our Thrift Shop depends upon the donated time of volunteers, donated items from the
community, and Thrift Shop shoppers.
Hospice receives grants and group donations from the following:
29 Palms RSVP Supper Club, County of San Bernardino Deptartment of Aging & Adult Services Title III-B, Country Club Mobile Home Estates, Desert Hills Presbyterian Women of Yucca Valley,
Emblem Club #411 of Yucca Valley, Fraternal Order of Eagles Auxiliary #4092, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Yucca Valley, Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, Hi-Desert Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Center,
Joshua Tree Memorial Park, MCAGCC Officers’ Spouses’ Club, Morongo Social Club, Retired Officers’ Spouses, Royal Crest Mobile Home Park, SCE Employees, Sigma Master Chapter MA 254 Beta Sigma Phi,
Sportettes Auxillary, Sportsman's Club of Joshua Tree, Unity Home, Wiefels Mortuary: Yucca Valley & 29 Palms, Women of the Moose Landers Chapter #1373, Yucca Valley Bridge Club, Yucca Valley Center for Spiritual Living,
Yucca Valley Senior Citizens Club, Yucca Valley Sunset Rotary Club #2163, Yucca Valley United Methodist Women, XI IOTA RHO X. 2424 Sorority.
Hospice also receives Bequests from:
Robert P. Bonnett and
The Geordie R. Gardiner & Mae Kenny Gardiner Trust.
See our Donations page on this website.
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Q4: What is the Hospice Medicare Benefit?
A:In 1983 the U.S. Congress added hospice care as a
covered benefit under Medicare. The states followed by adding the hospice benefit to
Medicaid programs (Medi-Cal in California).
Medicare pays 100% of the following services as they relate to the patient's terminal
disease.
The Hospice Medicare Benefit is provided by Medicare-certified hospices. The covered services
are:
- Physician services related to the terminal illness
- Regular home care visits by a nurse
- Visits by a home healthcare aide for such services as dressing and bathing
- Chaplain services for the patient and the family, if desired
- Social work and counseling services
- Bereavement counseling
- Medical equipment such as a hospital bed, wheelchair, or walker
- Medical supplies such as bandages or catheter
- Drugs to control symptoms and relieve pain
- Physical, speech and occupational therapy
- Dietary counseling
- Short-term hospital care, including respite care for caregivers
To find out more, visit these websites:
National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization
http://www.nhcpo.org
California Hospice & Palliative Care Organization
http://www.chapca.org
Many people who have a life-limiting illness do not meet the criteria for hospice care under
Medicare or their private insurance coverage, but need support to cope with their illness.
Hospice of Morongo Basin can help patients not eligible or not yet ready for Medicare
hospice.
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Q5: Why should I come into the Hospice office?
- You can consult with our Program Coordinator, Kay Star.
- You can pick up free copies of The Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care
forms and consult with our staff about end-of-life issues.
- You can pick up free laminated wallet cards, "The Grieving Person's Bill of Rights."
Keep one with you and send others to family and friends, or to someone who is grieving.
It will help you and others understand the needs of the grieving person.
- Look through our wide selection of CareNotes and take some (they are free) for yourself
or someone you know.
- Browse through our loan library and many other reference materials. .
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Q6: Where else can I go to find out more?
A: Hospice of Morongo Basin is here to help you. The
best way we can help is to encourage you to call us, at 760-366-1308, to explore and consult
with our staff on any issues, problems, or questions you may have. Please don't hesitate
to pick up the phone. You'll find a friendly voice at the other end!
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Q7: How can I find out if I'm ready for
Hospice?
A: Medicare-certified Hospices are allowed to provide a
few, limited non-hospice, or pre-hospice, services to help you explore in advance of the need
for hospice and what electing the Hospice Medicare Benefit entails. Contact your physician or local Medicare-certified hospice to request a pre-hospice consultation.
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