By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    benefits of using protein powder to build muscles
    Protein Powder for Muscle Mass: Everything You Need to Know
    December 12, 2021
    changes brought on by blockchain in healthcare
    Technology In The Healthcare Industry
    March 28, 2022
    What Does Core Body Temperature Say About Health?
    August 17, 2022
    Latest News
    Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
    May 16, 2025
    Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
    May 16, 2025
    Choosing the Right Supplement Manufacturer for Your Brand
    May 1, 2025
    Engineering Temporary Hospitals for Extreme Weather
    April 24, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    FDA Approves Diabetes Pill
    May 2, 2011
    Patient Gets Drunk on Hand Sanitizer
    June 20, 2011
    Cultivating Health Improvement
    July 20, 2011
    Latest News
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
    The Critical Role of Healthcare in Personal Injury Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide for Victims
    May 14, 2025
    The Backbone of Successful Trials: Clinical Data Management
    April 28, 2025
    Advancing Your Healthcare Career through Education and Specialization
    April 16, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Improving Healthcare Costs Through Smarter Utilization of Hospice Care
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Business > Improving Healthcare Costs Through Smarter Utilization of Hospice Care
Business

Improving Healthcare Costs Through Smarter Utilization of Hospice Care

Travis Haynes
Last updated: February 26, 2013 9:27 am
Travis Haynes
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

The number of hospice programs and individuals using hospice care in the United States has grown steadily over the past several years.  According to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), in 2011 an estimated 1.65 million patients received hospice services from 5,300 providers in the United States compared to 1.4 million from 4,700 providers in 2007.

The number of hospice programs and individuals using hospice care in the United States has grown steadily over the past several years.  According to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), in 2011 an estimated 1.65 million patients received hospice services from 5,300 providers in the United States compared to 1.4 million from 4,700 providers in 2007.

 

More Read

ACO
Should You Give Up on ACOs?
Cost of Medical Errors: $17 billion
Patient Centered Medical Homes: What it Takes for PCMH Accreditation
How Online Reviews Are Impacting Your Medical Practice Reputation
Unsustainable Health Care System

This growth is not surprising given the many benefits hospice provides to patients and their caregivers, not to mention the significant cost savings that can accrue to the healthcare system as a result of using hospice (which has per diem costs 6x lower than the average for other delivery settings).  Despite the growth and benefits, hospice has been and continues to be underutilized as evidenced by the downward trend in the median lengths of service.

We’ve found that the primary cause of hospice underutilization is the delay in referrals to hospice programs.  Referrals into programs are too often made in the last weeks of the patient’s life; only after all curative treatments have been exhausted.  These late referrals mean that patients and their caregivers do not receive the full benefit that hospice is designed to provide.  The largest contributors to the delayed use of hospice include:

  • The continued use of intensive care;
  • Increased testing by specialists;
  • Prolonged ICU stays at the end-of-life, which dramatically increases costs without significant improvements in the patient’s condition; and
  • The reluctance of physician’s and their assistants to discuss hospice as they do not want to be seen as giving up hope on their patient and upsetting the family, or may not have the understanding about the broader set of services hospice can provide.

There is also a common set of misconceptions about hospice that contributes to late referrals including the belief that once a patient forgoes curative treatment, they cannot return if their medical condition improves.  In fact, if a patient’s condition does improve, they can be discharged and return to their daily lives as well as curative treatment.  Another common misconception is the thought that hospice care is only limited to six months.  Under Medicare’s current policy, the initial benefit period is 90 days.  If the patient’s illness continues and it remains likely that the patient has a life expectancy of less than six months, the patient can be recertified for another 90 days.  After the second period, the patient can be recertified for an unlimited number of 60 day periods, as long as he or she remains eligible.

Hospice currently serves a critical need in the healthcare system as a result of rising healthcare costs and unnecessary admissions.  End-of-life care alone consumes a disproportionate amount of Medicare spending (accounting for up to 25% of all Medicare expenditures).

As mentioned above, hospice care can significantly lower costs when compared to other care delivery settings and those savings can be enhanced by not delaying the use of hospice until the last few weeks or days of a patient’s life.

Hospice providers need to actively educate the public and care providers about the benefits of hospice, while focusing on clinical excellence in determining proper client eligibility prior to admissions.

Let us know what you think.

 

TAGGED:hospice care
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Do You Grind Your Teeth at Night? Here’s How Night Guards and TMJ Treatments Can Help
Do You Grind Your Teeth at Night? Here’s How Night Guards and TMJ Treatments Can Help
Dental health
May 21, 2025
The Secret To A Confident Smile: Top Tips For Better Teeth
The Secret To A Confident Smile: Top Tips For Better Teeth
Dental health
May 21, 2025
Clinical Expertise
Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
Health care
May 18, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Health
May 15, 2025

You Might also Like

saving money in healthcare
BusinessGlobal HealthcareHospital Administration

Best Money-Saving Tips for Health Managers

January 12, 2023

Diabetes: Outlook for Monitoring, Management, and Technology Development

April 18, 2012
AD costs 2050.pptx
BusinessMedical InnovationsTechnology

New Test Claims It Can Tell If You Will Develop Alzheimer’s

February 10, 2015
obamacare
BusinessHealth ReformHospital AdministrationMedical EducationNewsPolicy & LawPublic Health

What We Still Don’t Know About ObamaCare

October 10, 2013
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?