Hospice Eligibility Criteria for COPD & Other Lung Diseases

COPD hospice eligibility criteria

If you or a loved one has COPD, you are eligible for hospice if you exhibit one or more of the following hospice criteria: 

• Labored breathing at rest despite medication. 
• Difficulty with feeding, bathing and other self-care activities. 
• Very low lung capacity. 
• Weight loss. 
• Desire to stay home if illness worsens. 
• And more. 

Other advanced lung diseases that may qualify for hospice

While COPD is one of the most common diagnoses associated with hospice care, Medicare eligibility may also apply to patients with other progressive lung diseases when their life expectancy is estimated to be six months or less and they experience significant functional decline. 

• Pulmonary Fibrosis and Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD)  
• Pulmonary Hypertension  
• Cystic Fibrosis  
• Bronchiectasis  
• End-Stage Respiratory Failure  
• Lung Cancer with Advanced
• Pulmonary Complications