42 CFR 418.204 – Special coverage requirements
(a) Periods of crisis. Nursing care may be covered on a continuous basis for as much as 24 hours a day during periods of crisis as necessary to maintain an individual at home. Either homemaker or home health aide (also known as hospice aide) services or both may be covered on a 24-hour continuous basis during periods of crisis but care during these periods must be predominantly nursing care. A period of crisis is a period in which the individual requires continuous care to achieve palliation and management of acute medical symptoms.
(b) Respite care. (1) Respite care is short-term inpatient care provided to the individual only when necessary to relieve the family members or other persons caring for the individual.
(2) Respite care may be provided only on an occasional basis and may not be reimbursed for more than five consecutive days at a time.
(c) Bereavement counseling. Bereavement counseling is a required hospice service but it is not reimbursable.