Under Medicare guidelines for Home Enteral Nutrition (HEN), which of the following is one of the two criteria?

Under Medicare guidelines for Home Enteral Nutrition (HEN), which of the following is one of the two criteria?

• A. A permanent non-function or disease of the structures that normally permit food to reach the small bowel
• B. A disease of the colon that causes diarrhea
• C. Inability to tolerate any oral intake for 6 weeks
• D. A temporary impairment in the mouth

Answer: (A)

Medicare coverage for Home Enteral Nutrition hinges on either of two situations: the GI tract is permanently unable to allow food to reach the small bowel, or the patient cannot meet nutritional needs by oral intake. The statement describing a permanent non-function or disease of the structures that normally permit food to reach the small bowel matches the first situation exactly, making it one of the two formal criteria for HEN. The other criterion would be inability to obtain sufficient nutrition by oral intake, not a fixed duration or a temporary mouth issue. The remaining options describe conditions that don’t align with these Medicare criteria: a colon disease causing diarrhea isn’t by itself an indication for HEN, the six-week oral- intake duration isn’t a formal criterion, and a temporary mouth impairment isn’t permanent.

Medicare coverage for Home Enteral Nutrition hinges on either of two situations: the GI tract is permanently unable to allow food to reach the small bowel, or the patient cannot meet nutritional needs by oral intake. The statement describing a permanent non-function or disease of the structures that normally permit food to reach the small bowel matches the first situation exactly, making it one of the two formal criteria for HEN. The other criterion would be inability to obtain sufficient nutrition by oral intake, not a fixed duration or a temporary mouth issue. The remaining options describe conditions that don’t align with these Medicare criteria: a colon disease causing diarrhea isn’t by itself an indication for HEN, the six-week oral- intake duration isn’t a formal criterion, and a temporary mouth impairment isn’t permanent.