NAME:     	Beneficiary's Hospice Period Count
 
 
 DESCRIPTION:	The count of the number of hospice period 
		trailers present for the beneficiary's 
		record.  

		Medicare covers hospice benefit periods  
		which may consist of  2 initial 90 day periods 
		followed by an unlimited number of 60 day
 		periods.  

		Hospice benefits are generally in lieu of
 		standard Part A hospital benefits for treating 
		the terminal condition.


 SHORT NAME: 	HOSPCPRD

 LONG NAME: 	BENE_HOSPC_PRD_CNT

 TYPE:		NUM
 
 LENGTH: 	1    

 SOURCE: 	CWF

 CODE VALUES:	-
 
 
 COMMENT:	Medicare payments are described in detail in a 
		series of Medicare Payment Advisory Commission 
   		(MedPAC) documents called “Payment Basics” 
		(see: http://www.medpac.gov/payment_basics.cfm)

		Also in the Medicare Learning Network (MLN) 
		“Payment System Fact Sheet Series” 
		(see: http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/
		Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNProducts/MLN-
		Publications.html).