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Hospice can be confusing. We have provided an extensive collection of research

 

Resources

We have put together the following resources to help assist with medical decisions and provide a reference for healthcare professionals. At Hummingbird Hospice, it is our goal to improve the quality of care you provide your patients, residents, and members of the community with advanced illnesses.  In this section you will find information relating to hospice guidelines, medications, details about billing for physician visits, research on materials, facts and statistics, and pertinent links to end of life care. 

LCD Guidelines

Hospice Eligibility is determined by using Medicare's Local Coverage Determination (LCD) Guidelines.  

Palliative Performance Scale

The Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) is used to help clinicians recognize a patient's functional decline. Oncology patients may be eligible for hospice with a PPS score of 70% or below. Most other diseases may be eligible with a PPS score of 50% or below. 

FAST Scale

The Functional Assessment Staging Tool (FAST) was designed to parallel the progressive activity limitations associated with Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

ECOG Performance Scale

The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) scale is used to assess cancer patient's disease progression in relation to their daily living abilities. 

NYHA Functional Classification

The New York Heart Association (NYHA) table is used to monitor the symptoms in patient's with heart failure.  

BMI Calculator

A body mass index (BMI) calculator provides weight status got adults ages 20+. 

Hospice Criteria "Cheat Sheet"

A collection of FAST, PPS, and LCD Guidelines

NHPCO Facts and Figures

The 2021 Edition of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organizations (NHPCO) Facts and Figures manual

Social Security Benefits

Information on Social Security benefits and how to apply

NHPCO Website

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) is the largest membership organization representing hospice and palliative care programs and professionals in the United States.

American Heart Association Website

The American Heart Association is a nonprofit organization that funds cardiovascular medical research

Texas Department of Health and Human Services

The Texas Department of Health and Human Services provides a range of services for Texans

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

CMS.gov provides information on benefits, billing, and services related to all aspects of care, including hospice. 

PubMed

is a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine that includes over 17 million citations from MEDLINE and other life science journals for biomedical articles dating back to the 1950's. It includes links to full text articles and other related resources.

CDC

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agency that compiles statistical information to guide actions and policies to improve the health of America

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