A Controversial Topic- End of Life Cost of Care Reduced in Hospice
April 8, 2015 at 11:06 AM Robert Kaminsky Leave a comment
End of life treatment and care is a sensitive, although necessary, topic for most. While no one wants to see a loved one having to check into hospice, the truth of the matter is that there are many reasons for doing so. The cost of care during a patient’s last year of life is reduced 12%, from an average of $71,517 to $62,819. Not only is the decision to choose hospice in end-of-life care a financial one, it is also related to quality of life. A patient checked in hospice reduces the need for hospitalizations and intensive care unit stays, which allows for less frequent emergency trips to the hospital and more consistent care.
Source: Span, P. (2014, November 20). An Easier Death, and Less Costly, Too. Retrieved April 6, 2015.
Entry filed under: Affordable Care Act, cost of care, Elderly, Healthcare Economics, Healthcare innovation, Healthcare Policy, hospice. Tags: care decisions, cost, cost of care, cost of healthcare, cost reduction, coverage, elderly, end of life, hospice, Medicare.
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