"Hospice" defined

Sec. 2. (a) As used in this chapter, "hospice" means a person or health care provider who owns or operates a hospice program or facility, or both, that uses an interdisciplinary team directed by a licensed physician to provide a program of planned and continuous care for hospice program patients and their families. (b) The term includes a program that: (1) provides a continuum of medical or nursing care and other hospice services to hospice program patients that complies with: (A) the: (i) conditions of participation for inpatient units under 42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.; and (ii) accreditation standards as provided in the Medicare program under 42 U.S.C. 1395x(dd)(2); and (B) standards adopted under this article; and (2) provides hospice services to hospice program patients and complies with standards adopted under this article. As added by P.L.24-1997, SEC.54.