Hospice and Palliative Care Eligibility Guidelines

Does your patient need hospice or palliative care? Patients are eligible for hospice care when a physician makes a clinical determination that life expectancy is six months or less if the terminal illness runs its normal course.

Hospice Eligibility Guidelines

These general and diagnosis-specific guidelines will help you determine if your patient is eligible for hospice. The guidelines are provided as a convenient tool and are not meant to take the place of a physician's professional judgment.

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Palliative Care Guidelines

Palliative care provides patients with relief from the symptoms, pain and stress of a serious illness—whatever the diagnosis. Here are some of the guidelines to determine if your patient could benefit from palliative care.

A couple talks with their physician in an office

Person holds smartphone showing the VITAS app

Quick, Secure and Simple

Refer your hospice-eligible patient easily. The VITAS app features:

HIPAA-compliant hospice referrals
Interactive scale to determine eligibility
Disease-specific guidelines

Available for Android and iOS devices.

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“I’m extremely indebted to VITAS for everything that has been given to us and to our family. They showed my mom the love she deserved and the care she deserved.”
- Danielle V., Illinois

“VITAS stepped in as my husband’s Alzheimer’s was getting hard for me. Right away, he loved his ‘helpers,’ and I loved the way everyone was so friendly—felt like I’d known them forever.”
- Daryl F., Florida

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