Getting admitted to hospice care begins with a single call. AmeriHospice coordinates with your loved one’s physician, handles Medicare paperwork, and can begin services within 24 hours in most cases. Families in Dallas and Fort Worth can start the process anytime through the hospice admissions page or by calling our team directly.

The Admission Process Is Simpler Than You Think

Many families delay calling a hospice provider because they assume the process will be complicated, slow, or require them to navigate a maze of paperwork on their own. In reality, the admission process is designed to be as simple and quick as possible, because the people who need hospice care cannot afford to wait.

AmeriHospice serves Dallas and Fort Worth families with a streamlined admission process that handles the coordination with your loved one’s physician, the Medicare or insurance enrollment, and the scheduling of the first nurse visit. Your job is to make the call. Here is what happens after that.

Step 1: Make the Initial Call or Request

The process begins when you reach out to AmeriHospice. You can call our admissions line, submit an inquiry through the 

You do not need a formal doctor’s referral in hand before calling. While a physician’s order is ultimately required to begin hospice services, AmeriHospice can contact your loved one’s physician directly to initiate the certification process. You just need to tell us who the doctor is.

Step 2: The Admissions Coordination Call

After you make contact, an admissions coordinator will call you to gather the information needed to begin enrollment. This typically takes 15 to 30 minutes and covers:

Patient information including full name, date of birth, and address. Insurance information, including Medicare number, Medicaid, or private insurance details. Primary diagnosis and current medical status. Attending physician’s name and contact information. Any urgent care needs that may require expedited scheduling.

Have this information ready if possible, but do not let missing information stop you from calling. The coordinator will work with what you have.

Step 3: Physician Certification

For a patient to enroll in the Medicare Hospice Benefit, two physicians must certify that the patient has a terminal prognosis of six months or less. These are the patient’s attending physician and the hospice medical director. AmeriHospice coordinates this certification directly with the attending physician, obtaining the necessary orders and documentation without requiring the family to manage this step.

If the patient is being discharged from a hospital, the hospital physician may serve as the certifying physician, with the hospice medical director co-certifying. AmeriHospice works directly with hospital case managers and discharge planners to make this transition as seamless as possible.

Step 4: The Election Statement and Enrollment Documents

Once the physician certification is in place, the patient or their authorized representative must sign an election statement, which is the formal document that enrolls the patient in the Medicare Hospice Benefit and acknowledges that care will be focused on comfort rather than cure for the terminal illness.

This document is not a do-not-resuscitate order and does not limit emergency care for conditions unrelated to the hospice diagnosis. The admissions nurse will walk through the election statement and all supporting documents clearly during the initial visit.

If the patient lacks decision-making capacity, the legal health care proxy or the person holding durable power of attorney for health care decisions can sign on the patient’s behalf.

Step 5: The Initial Nurse Assessment Visit

Once enrollment is complete, a registered nurse is dispatched for the initial assessment visit. In most cases, this happens within 24 to 48 hours of the first contact. In urgent situations, AmeriHospice can arrange same-day visits.

The nurse conducts a full clinical assessment, reviews and reconciles medications, orders and coordinates medical equipment delivery, delivers or orders the comfort kit, and begins developing the individualized plan of care in collaboration with the patient and family.

Step 6: Equipment Delivery and Team Introduction

Medical equipment ordered during the initial assessment, including a hospital bed, commode, wheelchair, or oxygen, is typically delivered within 24 hours. Following the nurse visit, other members of the interdisciplinary team begin their introductory visits:

A social worker visits within the first few days to assess emotional, financial, and practical needs. 

Can Admission Happen From a Hospital or Skilled Nursing Facility?

Yes. Many AmeriHospice admissions begin while the patient is still in the hospital or a skilled nursing facility. The hospital case manager or discharge planner typically initiates the referral, and the AmeriHospice admissions team coordinates directly with the facility to plan the transition to home-based care.

Families who are in the middle of a hospital stay and want to transition their loved one to hospice at home should let the case manager or social worker know immediately. AmeriHospice can typically have services in place within 24 hours of the hospital discharge.

Your Right to Choose Your Hospice Provider

Medicare gives patients and families the right to choose their hospice provider. You are not required to use the hospice that a hospital or physician recommends. If you have heard of AmeriHospice through a friend or family member, seen us in your community, or prefer to work with a specific team, you can request us directly.

To learn more or get started, visit 

Frequently Asked Questions