Compare 3 hospice & palliative medicine specialists in Bakersfield, CA. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
3
Hospice & Palliative Medicine Specialists
100%
Accepting patients
100%
Most common: MD
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
Bakersfield has 3 hospice & palliative medicine specialists. The most common credential is MD (100%). 100% are currently accepting new patients. Practitioners see patients in neighborhoods including Downtown Bakersfield, Oleander-Sunset, Westchester, and Riverlakes.
Nearby hospitals include Kern Medical Center, Adventist Health Bakersfield, and Mercy Hospital Bakersfield. Local training programs run through California State University, Bakersfield and Bakersfield College. Kern County faces one of the most severe physician shortages in California, with roughly 40 doctors per 100,000 residents.
A palliative care consultation involves a detailed conversation about your symptoms, concerns, goals, and what matters most to you. The physician will assess and treat symptoms (pain, nausea, shortness of breath, anxiety, insomnia) using medications and non-drug approaches. They help facilitate conversations about advance directives, code status, and treatment preferences. Hospice care includes regular home visits from nurses, aides, chaplains, social workers, and physicians, with medications and equipment provided.
Consider palliative care if you or a family member has a serious illness (cancer, heart failure, COPD, kidney failure, dementia, ALS) and is experiencing symptoms that reduce quality of life, needs help making treatment decisions, wants to clarify goals of care, or is struggling with the emotional burden of illness. Hospice is appropriate when curative treatment is no longer the goal and comfort becomes the priority.
Palliative care consultation copay: $30-75 · Hospice (Medicare): $0 copay · Hospice daily rate: $150-200 (covered by Medicare) · Respite care: 5 days covered per benefit period
Bakersfield, CA has 3 licensed hospice & palliative medicine specialists. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of hospice & palliative medicine specialists in Bakersfield, CA are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
A palliative care consultation copay is $30 to $75. Hospice under Medicare has $0 copay. The daily hospice rate is $150 to $200 (covered by Medicare). Respite care covers 5 days per benefit period. Actual costs in Bakersfield, CA depend on the provider and your insurance plan. Hospice is one of the most cost-effective models in healthcare. It covers medications, equipment, and services related to the terminal diagnosis at no cost under Medicare. Patients can revoke hospice and return to curative treatment at any time.
Look for a board-certified provider who accepts your insurance and practices near you. Bakersfield, CA has 3 hospice & palliative medicine specialists. Reading patient reviews and checking hospital affiliations can help narrow your choice. FindClarity lets you compare providers by credentials, insurance, and location.
67% of hospice & palliative medicine specialists in Bakersfield, CA accept Medicare. The Medicare Hospice Benefit covers hospice care at no cost to the patient, including medications, equipment, nursing, aide services, and bereavement support. Palliative care consultations are covered under standard Part B benefits. You can filter for Medicare-accepting providers on FindClarity.
Some hospice & palliative medicine specialists in Bakersfield, CA accept Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid program. Medicaid covers hospice care in all states. Palliative care consultations are covered as specialist visits. Dual-eligible patients have comprehensive hospice coverage. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm Medi-Cal participation before scheduling.
Palliative care consultations occur as needed based on symptom burden and treatment decisions. Hospice patients receive regular visits from the care team, typically several times per week, with physician oversight. With 3 hospice & palliative medicine specialists in Bakersfield, CA, you can search on FindClarity to find a provider who fits your schedule.
Palliative care consultations are covered as specialist visits under medical insurance. Hospice is a Medicare benefit (Part A) with no copays for eligible patients. Medicaid and most private insurance plans also cover hospice. Hospice covers medications, equipment, nursing visits, aide services, counseling, and respite care. Patients can revoke hospice and return to curative treatment at any time.