US · guidance
CMS SOM App. M, Tag L546
§418.56(c)(1) Interventions to manage pain and symptoms
Interpretive Guidelines §418.56(c)(1)
The goal of effective pain and symptom management is quality of life. When the pain
and symptoms that cause distress to the patient are effectively managed, the patient and
family are better able to focus on their vision of a “good death.” Effective pain and
symptom management include the ongoing assessment of the patient’s physical,
psychosocial, emotional and spiritual needs and re-evaluating the effectiveness of the
current plan of care in order to address those needs.
The hospice may also include the use of alternative therapies in the plan of care, to
benefit hospice patients/families (e.g., art, yoga, massage, music and light therapy).
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
77691724fe0bc7b951df7aae5b13bdc41ce3fc138869fd055eb9aadfc850ab0f
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