### Question
How is the "hospice program" defined?


### Answer
The term **hospice program** is defined in *42 U.S.C. § 1395x* as follows -

> a public agency or private organization (or a subdivision thereof) which—


(A)(i) is primarily engaged in providing the care and services described in paragraph (1) and makes such services available (as needed) on a 24-hour basis and which also provides bereavement counseling for the immediate family of terminally ill individuals and services described in section 1395d(a)(5) of this title,


(ii) provides for such care and services in individuals’ homes, on an outpatient basis, and on a short-term inpatient basis, directly or under arrangements made by the agency or organization, except that—


(I) the agency or organization must routinely provide directly substantially all of each of the services described in subparagraphs (A), (C), and (H) of paragraph (1), except as otherwise provided in paragraph (5), and


(II) in the case of other services described in paragraph (1) which are not provided directly by the agency or organization, the agency or organization must maintain professional management responsibility for all such services furnished to an individual, regardless of the location or facility in which such services are furnished

#### Citation:
  - *42 U.S.C. § 1395x*
  - Heading: **CHAPTER 7-SOCIAL SECURITY > SUBCHAPTER XVIII-HEALTH INSURANCE FOR AGED AND DISABLED > Part E-Miscellaneous Provisions**

