Eligibility
Coverage of hospice care depends upon a physician's certification that an individual's life expectancy is six months or fewer if the illness runs its normal course. Recognizing that determination of life expectancy during the course of a terminal illness can be difficult. Harrison's Hope clinical nurses use a number of tools and scales to qualify a patient. This eligibility is best determined by your physician or a hospice nurse during an interview with the patient and family and a thorough assessment. If a patient meets the medical criteria, they are, by definition, eligible to receive hospice services. Some patients may not meet the criteria, but may still be eligible for hospice care because of other co-morbidities or rapid functional decline.
Harrison's Hope is dedicated to providing hospice care to every person eligible for hospice services, regardless of their age, diagnosis or ability to pay. Hospice services are 100% covered by Medicare and Medicaid. The following diseases are considered to be terminal and will eventually qualify for hospice.
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Cancer
- Cardiovascular disease
- End-stage dementia
- Failure to thrive
- HIV disease
- Liver disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Neuromuscular disease
- Oncology
- Parkinsons disease
- Pulmonary disease
- Renal disease
- Stroke and coma
The following tips may help you identify a hospice patient:
- A major qualifying event, such as a hospital admission or multiple ER visits
- Recurrent infections including pneumonia, sepsis, or urinary tract infections
- Weight loss over the past 3-6 months
- Difficulty swallowing or aspiration
- Pain requiring frequent increase in medications
- Multiple falls
Also note worsening symptoms such as cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, decline in functional status (ADL'S), incontinence, confusion, poor appetite, change in behavior, and general decline may also qualify a patient.
