Whatcom Hospice

Whatcom Hospice is a Medicare-certified hospice provider serving Bellingham, Washington and surrounding areas. A Medicare-certified hospice provides comfort care and support services to patients with terminal illnesses and their families. Hospice care focuses on quality of life rather than curative treatment.

Hospice care is available to patients whose physician certifies they have a terminal illness with a life expectancy of six months or less if the illness runs its normal course. Patients may receive hospice care at home, in a hospice facility, nursing home, or hospital.

Medicare-certified hospices must provide all four levels of hospice care: routine home care, continuous home care for periods of crisis, general inpatient care for symptom management, and inpatient respite care to give caregivers a break. Care is provided by an interdisciplinary team including physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and trained volunteers.

Medicare covers hospice services with no cost to patients for most services, including medications for symptom control, medical equipment, and 24-hour access to care. For more information about hospice benefits, visit Medicare.gov. Compare hospice providers at Medicare Care Compare.

Quality data and provider information are updated periodically by CMS. We recommend verifying current information at Medicare Care Compare.