CARCContractual Obligation

CARC B9: Services not covered because the patient is enrolled in a Hospice program

If a patient is in hospice, most curative treatments are no longer covered by Medicare or the plan.

What this means for your claim

Hospice enrollment shifts the focus to comfort care. Most curative or life-prolonging treatments are excluded from the hospice benefit and must be billed outside of it.

What to do next

  1. 1

    Confirm whether the patient is enrolled in hospice, and if so, whether this service falls under palliative or curative care.

  2. 2

    If the treatment is unrelated to the terminal diagnosis, it may be separately covered — ask the insurer to review.

  3. 3

    Consult with the hospice care team and the primary insurer to coordinate billing.

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