In 2017, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization published a report on Hospice care in America. This report contains facts and figures on Hospice census and costs and gives a snapshot of what Hospice expenditure is like and the type of growth we may see in the future. Utilization of Hospice services and the current access to end-of-life services are reflected in this report and can be used as a basis for predicting the future of hospice care in relation to the current healthcare expenditures that have been a common topic of focus in the healthcare environment that we are in. Click on the link to view the report.
Facts and Figures Report 2017Of note as a portion of the National Health Expenditure, Medicare expenditure alone in 2016 was $672 billion. Hospice expenditure was 16.9 billion dollars in 2016 which reflects less than 3% of Medicare expenditure. Considering there is a larger expenditure in acute and curative care at the end of life where most of Medicare expenditures may escalate, there is a potential for savings if more end of life care is turned over to Hospice care. Also, still of concern in Hospice utilization is that a lot of patients are still being brought on to Hospice care too late and very near the end of life, reducing the benefits that can be obtained from the service.