A year after federal budget cuts severely reduced its Medicare coverage, Hospice of Montezuma announced this week that it has successfully rebounded from its near-extinction.

"We’re back, and here to stay," said Executive Director Keith Domerese from Hospice’s new headquarters across from Southwest Memorial Hospital.

Domerese credited local physicians and the community for rallying to overcome financial obstacles created after Medicare demanded repayment for subsidized services already rendered. The government cut reimbursements drastically for home health care as part of the 1997 Balanced Budget Act, and required Hospice of Montezuma to repay the government $150,000 for government subsidized services hospice had provided.

The ensuing debt forced the agency to cut staff and discontinue services in April 1999 for many Montezuma County patients relying on that care. Hospice managed to stay afloat by selling off its building on South Broadway in a deal that satisfied Medicare officials. The group has since moved its offices to 1108 N Mildred Road Suite B, rehired employees and more than doubled its patient base from five clients to 13.

"The community really rallied to make sure that we were not one of the many hospices across the nation that were forced to close down because of those cuts," Domerese said. "We got the word out that we needed clients and physicians responded with more referrals."

Hospice offers counseling and nursing services for patients who have been diagnosed with a terminal disease and have less than six months to live. A team of counselors, nurses and volunteers assist with medical and emotional needs of the patient and the patient’s family. Anxiety and the fear of dying is significantly reduced when there is an understanding of the grieving process, Domerese said.

The agency hopes to better educate the community on what services Hospice offers for the dying and their friends and family. Officials estimate that only one out of three people eligible for Hospice care takes advantage of the service.

"People have earned this service by paying into Medicare throughout their lives," said Melissa Sisk, Hospice patient care coordinator. "Hospice is not charity, it is an incentive that has already been paid for, so we are trying to get more people to collect."