Hospice - Neurological Conditions

Medicare hospice coverage for neurological conditions requires clinical documentation that the primary neurological disorder, together with any secondary or comorbid conditions and their resultant structural/functional impairments and activity limitations, predict a life expectancy of six months or less. Required documentation includes identification of impairments (e.g., consciousness, swallowing, muscle function), observed activity limitations, environmental factors, descriptions of secondary/comorbid conditions (e.g., dysphagia, pneumonia, pressure ulcers, COPD), and a beneficiary-centered plan of care; absence of sufficient documentation or a prognosis exceeding six months precludes hospice eligibility.

"A primary neurological condition that, based on documented structural/functional impairments and activity limitations, is expected to have a prognosis of 6 months or less if the illness runs its no..."