Trustbridge – Trustbridge

For referring physicians

A trusted partner

A leader and innovator in healthcare for more than 40 years, Trustbridge has the clinical excellence, caring philosophy and passionate team you can rely on. Our board certified physicians and nurse practitioners are dedicated to working with you in providing the highest possible quality care and support.

We can assist you with difficult end-of-life discussions.
You can continue to be involved with your patients’ hospice care.
You can continue to bill after you refer to us.
We have dedicated staff to help your office with insurance and billing.

No case is too complicated

We’re here to support you, your patients and their caregivers 24 hours a day.

Call (844) 422-3648 for hospice eligibility and admissions.
To schedule a consult with a hospice physician, call our dedicated physician line, (561) 494-6836.
For a palliative medicine consult, call (866) 640-6804.

Identifying hospice-eligible patients

Hospice care eligibility

Patients qualify for hospice care when they have a diagnosis or combination of conditions that result in a 6-month prognosis if the terminal illness runs its normal course.

Dependence on others for Activities of Daily Living is often a strong indicator of the need for hospice care.

We admit all patients who are eligible for hospice care, regardless of physical condition or ability to pay. We are among only 4% of hospices nationwide admitting patients who need discretionary, non-curative treatments for comfort, such as radiation, chemotherapy, transfusions and IV medications.

24/7 comfort and support for your patients & families

When physical symptoms are well-controlled, patients can concentrate on meeting their emotional and spiritual needs.

Pain and symptom control
Regular nursing visits
Caregiver guidance and support
Emotional and spiritual support for the family
Delivery of medications, equipment and supplies
Complementary therapies

Partnering with you

During the final six months of life, we can help you reduce hospital readmissions and improve patient-family satisfaction.

We can assist you with difficult end-of-life care discussions.
You can continue to be involved in your patients’ care.
You can continue to bill after you refer to us

Identifying Hospice Eligible Patients (PDF)

Benefits of early referral

Although most people know that hospice care is for the end of life, we are often asked what this means. When should a patient be referred to hospice?

While hospice care may be appropriate at any time during a life-limiting illness, we have found that the quality of life of patients and their families is highest when in hospice care for as long as possible.

A new study by the NORC at the University of Chicago found that hospice care contributed $3.5 billion in savings for Medicare in 2019. The total cost of care to Medicare for beneficiaries who used hospice services was 3.1% lower than for those who did not elect hospice services. In addition, earlier enrollment in hospice reduced Medicare spending even further

Key findings of the study include:

Medicare spending for individuals that received hospice care was $3.5 billion less than that of individuals who didn’t.
The total cost of care to Medicare for beneficiaries who used hospice services was 3.1% lower that for those who didn’t use hospice services.
Earlier enrollment in hospice reduces Medicare spending even further. Hospice is associated with lower Medicare end-of-life expenditures when lengths of stay are longer than 10 days.
Hospice stays of six months or more result in an average 11% savings for Medicare.

How Trustbridge can help

By providing the option of hospice care sooner, you can continue to make a positive change in the lives of your patients and help them to maximize their quality of life. We offer families excellent medical care, caregiver support, and healthcare support in our patients’ homes. Services include

Pain and symptom relief
Regular nursing visits
Caregiver guidance and support
Emotional and spiritual support for your family
Complementary therapies, such as music therapy
Delivery of medications, special equipment, and supplies

Families are entitled to hospice care for six months or longer if the patient continues to meet the medical criteria. Patients can choose to leave hospice care at any time, for any reason, and return later on if they meet admission criteria.

The earlier you call, the more you can benefit from our support. The number one comment we hear is “I wish we had called sooner.”

Benefits of Early Referral (PDF)

Talking to your patients about end-of-life care

Your patients are unique – each have their own beliefs about who they are, what gives them meaning, what they value and what they hold true. These can include family, friends, good health and well-being and happiness. However, when they become seriously ill, their priorities change and they need to re-evaluate what their new goals may be and what options are available to them.

Effective communication between doctors and their patients and caregivers is the cornerstone of the physician-patient relationship and provides the basis for patient-centered care. Yet for many healthcare providers, they may also prove to be the most difficult. As a physician, you may be focused on pursuing a cure or worried about taking away a patient’s hope. However, when done correctly, goals-of-care conversations can improve doctor-patient relations and allow your patient to be where they want to be, with the people they want to be with and experience the quality of life they want and deserve.

While no physician should ever be uncomfortable having these conversations, Trustbridge is here to help you if you do not feel comfortable or capable of doing it well. For over 45 years, Trustbridge has been your trusted partner in care, working with you to meet the needs of your patients and families, thru every step of their journey.

Ultimately, goals-of-care conversations aren’t about us. They are about partnering with our patients and understanding their values, perspectives, fears and desires. They are about getting people the care they want and need. Trustbridge is here to help you reach those goals for your patients.

How to Have Difficult Conversations (PDF)

How to bill for Medicare hospice patients

Primary Attending Physician

The primary (attending) physician is chosen by the patient and listed as the hospice attending physician on the Medicare claim form.

Billing for Care Related to the Terminal Diagnosis: Only the hospice primary (attending) physician can bill Medicare Part B for care related to the terminal diagnosis. Use the applicable CPT©E/M code for the service, add the GV modifier, and submit with the ICD-10 code for the hospice diagnosis.

Consulting (or Secondary) Physician

If you are not the physician designated as the hospice primary (attending) physician on the Medicare Election of Benefits, you are considered a consulting (secondary) physician for billing purposes.

A “Physician Consulting Agreement” must be signed before the care is provided. This allows Trustbridge to bill Medicare for your services and meet regulatory requirements to reimburse physicians. Email contractadmin@trustbridge.com or call 227.5188.
Only hospice can bill Medicare for physician services related to the terminal illness (except those provided by the hospice attending physician, as defined above). Bills submitted to Medicare B will be denied.
The physician bills Trustbridge using applicable CPT©E/M codes for both professional and technical components using a CMS 1500 form. Hospice bills Medicare Part A and reimburses the physician according to the terms of the “Physician Consulting Agreement.”

Physician Services NOT Related to the Hospice Diagnosis

Any physician may provide care to a hospice patient for diagnoses that are NOT related to the terminal illness. Use the applicable CPT©E/M code for the service, add the GW modifier, and submit with the appropriate ICD-10 codes.

Billing for Other Services Related to the Terminal Diagnosis

Only hospice can bill Medicare for ANY service related to the terminal diagnosis (except for hospice attending physician services, as described above).

Medications, diagnostic tests and procedures must be pre-authorized by Trustbridge. Authorization is obtained from the team supervisor caring for the patient. Payment will be based on the provider’s billing agreement with Trustbridge.

How To Bill For Services (PDF)