Which statement describes eligibility for hospice?

Which statement describes eligibility for hospice?

• A. Eligible for Medicare Part A
• B. Terminal illness certified by a physician and hospice medical director with a prognosis of fewer than six months to live
• C. The length of care periods
• D. Must be over 65

Answer: (B)

Hospice eligibility centers on a clear prognosis of a terminal illness and official certification by medical authorities. Specifically, a patient must have a life expectancy of six months or less if the disease runs its usual course, and this prognosis must be formally certified by the treating physician in collaboration with the hospice medical director. This certification signals that the focus should shift from curative treatment to comfort and quality of life, which is the purpose of hospice care. Being eligible for Medicare Part A is not the defining criterion, and age isn’t a requirement, nor is the length of a care period used to determine eligibility.

Hospice eligibility centers on a clear prognosis of a terminal illness and official certification by medical authorities. Specifically, a patient must have a life expectancy of six months or less if the disease runs its usual course, and this prognosis must be formally certified by the treating physician in collaboration with the hospice medical director. This certification signals that the focus should shift from curative treatment to comfort and quality of life, which is the purpose of hospice care. Being eligible for Medicare Part A is not the defining criterion, and age isn’t a requirement, nor is the length of a care period used to determine eligibility.