Document the patient’s trajectory
Clinical tools support an individualized assessment over time.
Describe what has changed
Record the underlying illness, related conditions, functional ability, nutritional changes, symptoms, and recent complications. Compare current findings with earlier observations when documenting decline.
Use scales in context
PPS, KPS, and FAST can help describe function and disease progression. A score alone does not establish hospice eligibility. Prognostic estimates also depend on the population and setting in which a tool was validated.
Check the applicable policy
Medicare local coverage guidance varies by contractor and jurisdiction. Confirm the active policy for the patient’s location and date of service. The linked NGS LCD is an example, not a universal national checklist.
Sources & further reading
General educational information. Discuss individual care decisions with your healthcare team.