In eBenefits, apply using the Veterans On-line Application (VONAPP) to complete and submit your application online. You can also submit a paper application. To do this, download and complete VA Form 22-1990, Application for VA Education Benefits and mail it to a VA Regional Processing Office.
But such care can be expensive, costing upward of $10,000 a month, according to the Health Affairs study. That puts hospices in a financial bind. Last year, the Medicare program paid a base rate of $151 per day to cover all routine hospice services, adjusted for geographic differences.
This means that half of hospice patients receive care for less than three weeks and half receive care for more than three weeks. The average LOS is 72.6 days. 5 Approximately 34.5% of hospice patients receive care for just seven days or less. 48.8% of patients die or are discharged within 14 days of admission. 1 Only 11.5% of patients remain under hospice care for longer than 180 days.