Published: July 21, 2025
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When it comes to hospice care, patients and loved ones often ask: If I’ve started hospice care, can I go to the emergency room (ER) if I need to?
“They can,” says Alice Shumate, RN, vice president of clinical practice at Traditions Health. “But it’s important to know what alternatives hospice can provide and how an ER visit may impact your hospice benefit assignment.”
Learn what to do if you or a loved one needs immediate care so that you can make an informed decision.
The goals of hospice care
Hospice provides specialized care at a difficult time in life. You might consider hospice care if you or a loved one has:
- A terminal illness
- A life expectancy of 6 months or less
- A cure is not attainable
In these cases, hospice helps shift the focus to symptom control that gives you and your family an active plan of care to manage physical, psychosocial, and spiritual needs. “At Traditions Health, our hospice team provides a multidisciplinary system of support,” says Shumate. “We assist the patient and family with goals they set to achieve dignity, comfort, and quality of life.”
Hospice care helps you remain in your home environment, with the people, pets, and surroundings you love.
What happens to hospice patients during an emergency
But what happens if you need emergency care — do you go to the ER for treatment or remain at home? Sometimes, hospice patients need hospital care for an urgent problem that’s not related to their terminal illness. Some examples may include falls, broken bones, or infections.
In an emergency, Shumate says it’s important for patients to get the immediate care they need, but also to always contact their hospice team first. Your 24/7 team helps you determine if an ER visit is necessary, or if appropriate, and if effective alternatives can be offered. They can also make it easier to receive the ER care you need and want by working closely with the hospital, should you require it.
“Reaching out to your hospice team first can smooth the way with coordination of care between the hospice and the hospital,” she says. “To be seen in the ER and maintain the hospice benefit depends on whether the emergent medical issue is related or unrelated to the terminal illness.”
The ER team focuses on curative treatment, so it’s important to have your hospice team involved. They can help the ER team understand your diagnosis, treatment, and wishes.
Usually, your ER visit is short. After the visit, you return home to continue hospice. Depending on your condition, you may receive a higher level of care, such as continuous home care. You may need to go to an acute care setting for short-term, elevated care that works with your hospice provider.
ER costs and coverage while on hospice
Another reason to contact your hospice team before an ER visit is that they can help ensure you keep your hospice coverage.
“Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance providers have a specific relationship with the hospice provider for the treatments related to the terminal diagnosis and symptom management,” explains Shumate. “By engaging the hospice team before a visit to the ER, there is an opportunity to coordinate the care plan to assure the experience is smooth, there are no interruptions in coverage, and the care needed is the care that’s provided.”
Contact your hospice care team, 24/7
Ultimately, hospice focuses on more comfort and less suffering. If you have questions or concerns while receiving hospice, especially about the ER, contact your after-hours care number. At Traditions Health, someone is always on call to help, 24/7. We also offer the Anticipatory Symptom Assessment Pathways (ASAP) program to empower patients and caregivers to manage symptoms and anxiety in a crisis.
To learn more about hospice services, please contact us by submitting a request care form.