§ 418.88 - Condition of participation—Counseling services.

Counseling services must be available to both the individual and the family. Counseling includes bereavement counseling, provided after the patient's death as well as dietary, spiritual and any other counseling services for the individual and family provided while the individual is enrolled in the hospice.

(a) Standard: Bereavement counseling. There must be an organized program for the provision of bereavement services under the supervision of a qualified professional. The plan of care for these services should reflect family needs, as well as a clear delineation of services to be provided and the frequency of service delivery (up to one year following the death of the patient). A special coverage provision for bereavement counseling is specified § 418.204(c).

(b) Standard: Dietary counseling. Dietary counseling, when required, must be provided by a qualified individual.

(c) Standard: Spiritual counseling. Spiritual counseling must include notice to patients as to the availability of clergy as provided in § 418.70(f).

(d) Standard: Additional counseling. Counseling may be provided by other members of the interdisciplinary group as well as by other qualified professionals as determined by the hospice.