(a) The hospice admits a patient only on the recommendation of the medical director (or the physician designee, as defined in § 418.3) in consultation with, or with input from, the patient's attending physician (if any).

(b) In reaching a decision to certify that the patient is terminally ill, the hospice medical director (or the physician designee, as defined in § 418.3) must consider at least the following information:

(1) Diagnosis of the terminal condition of the patient.

(2) Other health conditions, whether related or unrelated to the terminal condition.

(3) Current clinically relevant information supporting all diagnoses.