AIDS / HIV

Hospice Eligibility Criteria

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks cells that help the body fight off infection, thus making a person vulnerable to other infections and diseases. HIV can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. AIDS is the most advanced stage of HIV and currently has no cure.

Hospice Criteria for AIDS/HIV:

Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) Scale score of ≤ 50% (see table below)
Dependence on assistance for 2 or more activities of daily living (e.g. feeding, transferring, ambulation, bathing, continence, dressing)
CD4+ Count < 25 cells/mcl or persistent viral load > 100,000 copies/ml, plus one (1) of the following:
- CNS lymphoma
- Persistent wasting
- Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) bacteremia, untreated, unresponsive to treatment, or treatment refused
- Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy
- Systematic lymphoma, with advanced HIV disease and partial response to chemotherapy
- Visceral Kaposi’s sarcoma unresponsive to therapy
- Renal failure in absence of dialysis
- Cryptosporidium infection
- Toxoplasmosis, unresponsive

If you are or know an AIDS/HIV patient who could benefit from hospice, call Appalachian Hospice and Home Health Services at 606-432-2112 or 606-789-3841 to learn how we can provide quality, compassionate care to you, your patient, or your loved one.

Appalachian Hospice and Home Health Services adheres to all HIPAA privacy policies.