Hospice, Inc.

Metropolitan

    
Guide to Eligibility  Diagnoses   Q & A
Stroke (CVA) OR Coma
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The patient has 1 with at least one symptom from 2

1.
Poor functional status with Palliative Performance Scale of 40% or less (unable to care for self)
2. Poor nutritional status with inability to maintain sufficient fluid and calorie intake with either
  • >10% weight loss over the previous six (6) months
  • >7.5% weight loss over the previous three (3) months
  • Serum albumin <2.5gm/dl
  • Current History of pulmonary aspiration without effective response to speech language pathology interventions to improve dysphagia and decrease aspiration events
Supporting Document

Coma (any etiology) with three (3) of the following on the third (3rd) day of coma:

  • Abnormal brain stem response
  • Absent verbal responses
  • Absent withdrawal response to pain
  • Serum creatinine > 1.5gm/dl
In the absence of one or more of the above findings, rapid decline or comorbidities may also support eligibility for hospice care.