Welcome to Island Hospice, a program of Hospice & Palliative Care of Cape Cod (H&PCCC)

Established in 2009 as the first and only Medicare-certified hospice on Martha’s Vineyard, Island Hospice is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to providing services that enhance the comfort and quality of life for patients and families experiencing the impact of serious illness and loss. It operates in close collaboration with Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard (HMV) and the Vineyard Nursing Association (VNA) to serve all residents of Dukes County.

Previously, residents of Martha’s Vineyard with Medicare healthcare coverage have not had access to their hospice healthcare benefit without leaving the Island. The hospice insurance benefit provides coverage for a full range of service and supplies including durable medical equipment (such as hospital beds, wheelchairs, walkers, etc.), as much home health care time as needed, more nursing time in the home, medications, physical/speech and occupational therapies, physician visits to homes, inpatient respite care for caregivers, and up to 24 hour care in times of crisis. All of this is provided at no cost to patients.

Through this alignment, Island residents are able to access the care provided by HMV and VNA from the point of diagnosis of life-limiting illness and, upon reaching eligibility, also access their hospice healthcare insurance benefit – whether from Medicare, Medicaid, or a commercial insurer (Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Tufts, Harvard Pilgrim, etc.) This also allows for patients to be cared for under Island Hospice’s “Open Door” philosophy, which serves all eligible regardless of complexity of care needs, special treatments being received, or ability to pay.

Also in 2009, Hospice & Palliative Care of Cape Cod purchased Hospice of Boston and Greater Brockton. Together with Island Hospice, the three programs provide one contiguous service area ranging from Provincetown to Martha’s Vineyard to Boston, including all of Barnstable, Dukes, Plymouth, Bristol, Suffolk and Norfolk Counties.