US · guidance
CMS SOM App. M, Tag L520
§418.54 Condition of participation: Initial and Comprehensive assessment of the
patient
The hospice must conduct and document in writing a patient-specific comprehensive
assessment that identifies the patient’s need for hospice care and services, and the
patient’s need for physical, psychosocial, emotional, and spiritual care. This
assessment includes all areas of hospice care related to the palliation and
management of the terminal illness and related conditions.
Interpretive Guidelines §418.54
The comprehensive patient assessment must accurately reflect the patient’s current health
status and include information to establish and monitor a plan of care. Hospices are not
required to use specific forms or formats to document their initial or comprehensive
assessments. They may choose to document patient specific comprehensive assessments
in either written or electronic format provided the assessments are complete, readily
identifiable, and available in the patient’s clinical record.
History
Rev. 210; Issued:02-03-23; Effective:02-03-23; Implementation:02-03-23
Provenance
- Source
- cms.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-07-22
- Edition
- som-2026-07-22
- Content hash
be02f9b6df2fc8085e59eb16dc9abc40368b79cdc675fa5bcbc102bc8e73e35f
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