Coverage for hospice care services

24-A M.R.S. § 2759, under Chapter 33.

24-A M.R.S. § 2759

1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.

A. "Hospice care services" means services provided on a 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week basis to a person who is terminally ill and that person's family. "Hospice care services" includes, but is not limited to, physician services; nursing care; respite care; medical and social work services; counseling services; nutritional counseling; pain and symptom management; medical supplies and durable medical equipment; occupational, physical or speech therapies; volunteer services; home health care services; and bereavement services. [PL 2001, c. 358, Pt. LL, §2 (NEW); PL 2001, c. 358, Pt. LL, §5 (AFF).]

B. "Person who is terminally ill" means a person that has a medical prognosis that the person's life expectancy is 12 months or less if the illness runs its normal course. [PL 2001, c. 358, Pt. LL, §2 (NEW); PL 2001, c. 358, Pt. LL, §5 (AFF).]

2. Coverage for hospice care services. All individual health policies must provide coverage for hospice care services to a person who is terminally ill. Hospice care services must be provided according to a written care delivery plan developed by a hospice care provider and the recipient of hospice care services. Coverage for hospice care services must be provided whether the services are provided in a home setting or an inpatient setting.