While the Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) used in healthcare is a helpful tool, there isn’t a single, definitive PPS percentage threshold for recommending hospice care.

Here’s why:

• Focuses on Function, Not Prognosis: The PPS primarily assesses a patient’s ability to perform daily activities, not their exact lifespan.
• Other Factors Considered: Doctors consider various factors alongside the PPS score when recommending hospice, such as a patient’s wishes, overall prognosis, and disease trajectory.
• General Guideline: That being said, a PPS score below 70% is often seen as a general indicator that a patient might benefit from hospice care.

In essence, the PPS score is a piece of the puzzle, not the sole factor for hospice referral.