Medicare Hospice Benefit — Level 3
General Inpatient Care
When symptoms become too difficult to manage at home, Stonewood Hospice provides General Inpatient Care (GIP) — short-term, intensive symptom management in a skilled inpatient setting, available 24 hours a day.
What Is General Inpatient Care?
General Inpatient Care (GIP) is one of the four levels of hospice care covered under the Medicare Hospice Benefit. It is designed for patients experiencing a medical crisis — symptoms that are too severe or complex to be safely managed in a home or residential setting.
GIP is not a permanent placement — it is a short-term, intensive level of care intended to stabilize a patient's condition so they can return to a lower level of care, such as routine home hospice, as soon as it is safe to do so.
Stonewood Hospice coordinates GIP through partner inpatient facilities in Southeast Texas. Our hospice team — including your nurse, social worker, and chaplain — remains actively involved throughout your inpatient stay. You are never handed off to a facility and left alone.
When the crisis has passed, we work with you and your family to transition back to the setting that best fits your needs and wishes.
When Is GIP Appropriate?
GIP is appropriate when a patient's symptoms cannot be managed in their current setting and require the level of monitoring and intervention only an inpatient environment can provide.
Pain that cannot be controlled with current medications
Severe nausea, vomiting, or respiratory distress
Acute anxiety or agitation requiring close monitoring
Wound care or symptom management beyond what home care can provide
A medical crisis requiring short-term inpatient intervention
Caregiver exhaustion during a period of acute patient need
GIP eligibility is determined by your hospice physician and care team based on your individual clinical needs.
What to Expect During GIP
Throughout your inpatient stay, Stonewood's care team remains your primary point of contact and advocate — coordinating with the facility on your behalf.
24/7 Skilled Nursing
Around-the-clock nursing care focused entirely on comfort and symptom relief — not curative treatment.
Rapid Symptom Management
Immediate access to medications, interventions, and the full hospice care team to bring symptoms under control quickly.
Family Presence & Support
Families are welcome and supported throughout the inpatient stay. Our social worker and chaplain remain available.
Seamless Transition Back Home
Once symptoms are stabilized, we coordinate a smooth return to home hospice or the appropriate next level of care.
Covered by Medicare Hospice Benefit
GIP is one of the four levels of hospice care covered under the Medicare Hospice Benefit when medically necessary.
Covered Under the Medicare Hospice Benefit
General Inpatient Care is a covered benefit under Medicare Part A when it is medically necessary. Most Medicare Advantage plans and many private insurance plans follow the same coverage rules. Stonewood's team will verify your coverage and walk you through what to expect — there should be no surprise costs for GIP when it is ordered by your hospice physician.
Learn more about hospice costs & coveragePart of a Continuum of Care
GIP is one of four levels of hospice care. Most patients spend the majority of their time on Routine Home Care — GIP is available when a crisis arises, and patients return to home care once the situation is stabilized.
Understand the Four Levels of Hospice CareQuestions About Inpatient Hospice Care?
Our team is available 24 hours a day to answer your questions and help you understand whether GIP is the right level of care for your loved one.