Yes. Sometimes a patient’s health improves in hospice care for a number of reasons: nutritional needs are met, medications are changed, regular social interaction, more consistent medical and/or personal attention, etc.
Hospital care is a Medicare benefit that belongs to the patient. When patients enter hospital care, it is because they are entitled to benefit and choose to use it. A significant improvement in the patient’s condition may require the physician to reassess the patient’s six-month prognosis. If the patient’s doctor believes that he will live more than six months, hospitalization is stopped.
If or when the patient’s condition begins to deteriorate, the doctor may reevaluate the patient. If the patient is again eligible for hospice care, he can continue hospice care if he wishes.