Improving access to hospice care: informing the debate

Area of Science:

• Health Policy
• Palliative Care
• Healthcare Economics

Background:

• Access to hospice care is a significant policy concern.
• Expanding Medicare Hospice Benefit eligibility is a frequently proposed solution.
• The implications of expanding eligibility remain largely unevaluated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and describe the implications of expanding Medicare Hospice Benefit eligibility.
• To analyze the effects on the nature and cost of hospice care.
• To examine the impact on the structure of hospice and palliative care delivery.

Main Methods:

• Policy analysis
• Literature review
• Implication assessment

Main Results:

• Expansion necessitates a redefinition of the target population for hospice care.
• Potential impacts on care quality, program costs, and delivery models require thorough assessment.
• Defining appropriate eligibility is crucial for future policy and industry discussions.

Conclusions:

• Expanding Medicare Hospice Benefit eligibility presents complex challenges.
• Careful consideration of implications for care, cost, and delivery is essential.
• Clear delineation of policy options and their consequences is critical for improving hospice access.