Choosing hospice care is a major decision—and one of the most common questions families ask is:
“Can we keep our own doctor?”
The short answer is: Yes, in most cases, you can keep your own doctor when entering hospice care. Hospice is designed to work with your existing medical relationships—not replace them.
In this article, we’ll explore how this works, what to expect, and how your personal physician can remain part of your care team.
The Role of Physicians in Hospice
When you begin hospice care, your care becomes the responsibility of a specialized interdisciplinary hospice team. That team includes a hospice physician, who oversees your medical care within the hospice program. But that doesn’t mean your own doctor is cut out of the picture.
There are two main roles a doctor can play in hospice:
Attending Physician – The doctor you choose to oversee your care, usually your current primary care physician or specialist.
Hospice Medical Director – The doctor employed by the hospice agency to supervise the care plan and guide the hospice team.
You can choose either one—or both—to be involved in your care.
Keeping Your Own Doctor as the Attending Physician
What This Means
If your current doctor is willing, they can continue treating you as your attending physician in hospice. This means they:
Collaborate with the hospice team
Make medical decisions about your care
Are consulted during care plan updates
Hospice nurses and staff will keep your doctor informed and may ask them to approve medications, treatments, or adjustments as your condition evolves.
When It Works Best
Keeping your own doctor can be especially helpful if:
You have a long-standing, trusted relationship
Your doctor knows your condition deeply (e.g., an oncologist for cancer)
You feel more at ease with their guidance
What If Your Doctor Isn’t Involved?
Not all doctors continue to follow patients into hospice. Reasons may include:
They’re not familiar with hospice care
They lack time to coordinate with the hospice team
They prefer to hand off care to the hospice physician
If your doctor opts out, the hospice medical director takes over and ensures you still receive expert, compassionate care.
You will never be without a doctor—hospice always provides medical oversight.
Communication and Coordination
One of the hallmarks of hospice care is team-based coordination. If you choose to keep your physician:
The hospice team keeps them updated
Everyone works from the same plan of care
Your comfort, goals, and wishes stay at the center of decision-making
This collaborative model helps reduce confusion, avoid unnecessary interventions, and provide consistent support for you and your family.
Medicare and Insurance Considerations
Under the Medicare Hospice Benefit, you have the right to select your attending physician. Medicare (and most private insurers) will cover:
Your hospice physician services
Visits or consultations from your chosen attending doctor (if they accept your insurance)
There’s no financial penalty or extra cost for choosing your doctor—just let the hospice provider know your preference.
Final Thoughts
Hospice is about honoring your values, your dignity, and your relationships. If your doctor has been a trusted part of your healthcare journey, you can absolutely invite them to continue with you into hospice care.
When you enroll, be sure to ask:
“Can I keep my doctor?”
“Will they stay involved in my care plan?”
“How do we communicate with them moving forward?”
The best hospice providers will support your choice and build a care team that includes the people you trust most.