Senior Care Blog

New Report: Value of Hospice in Medicare

President Carter’s decision in mid-February to enter hospice is a choice more than 27 million Americans have made, with increasing numbers selecting this option as more people get to know hospice care. In 2019, 1.61 million Medicare beneficiaries were enrolled in hospice, and according to new research by NORC at the University of Chicago, hospice saved Medicare $3.5 billion that year. The research also found in the last year of life, the total costs of care to Medicare for beneficiaries who used hospice was 3.1% lower than for beneficiaries who did not use hospice. What’s more, the longer people spend in hospice, the greater the savings to Medicare—a critical point as policymakers look for ways to extend the Medicare Trust Fund.

Research also showed what we already know – hospice care benefits patients, family members, and caregivers. From increased satisfaction and quality of life, to improved pain control, to reduced physical and emotional distress, and reduced prolonged grief and other emotional distress, hospice offers multiple benefits to patient, families, and caregivers.

A summary of the report can be found at https://www.nhpco.org/wp-content/uploads/NORC_Value-of-Hospice-Research_Exec-Summary.pdf

To find out more about hospices services, please call Arcy Hospice at 469-293-1515.

 

Jimmie Stapleton

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