Hospice Eligibility

Hospice eligibility considerations:

• Qualified Medicare benefit
• Limited life expectancy (6 months or less if disease ran its normal course)
• Condition not likely reversible
• Concentrates on quality of life
• Care, not cure
• Pain and symptom management

Signs and Symptoms which may indicate a need for Hospice:

• Increased confusion
• Weight loss
• Multiple hospitalizations
• Pain
• Shortness of breath
• Difficulty in performing daily activities and personal care
• Overall decline
• Progression of disease

Possible Hospice diagnoses:

• Cancer
• Cardiac
• Pulmonary
• Dementia
• Renal Failure
• HIV/AIDS
• CVA
• Neuromuscular disease- ALS, MS, Parkinson's
• Adult Failure to Thrive/Debility