Which criterion indicates malabsorption and is part of Medicare HPN eligibility?

• A. Fecal fat tests demonstrating malabsorption
• B. Serum albumin below 3.4 g/dL
• C. Weight loss 100% in 3 months
• D. Bowel rest for 3 months

Answer: (A)

Documenting fat malabsorption with a fecal fat test is the criterion Medicare uses to establish eligibility for home parenteral nutrition. A stool fat test quantifies fat excreted in the stool; elevated fat confirms malabsorption, which is the objective evidence Medicare requires to justify long-term parenteral nutrition.

Low serum albumin, while it can reflect nutritional status, is not specific to malabsorption and can be influenced by inflammation, liver disease, or acute illness. Weight loss alone doesn’t prove malabsorption, as it can result from decreased intake or other conditions. Bowel rest isn’t a criterion used to determine HPN eligibility.