Researchers analyzed cost savings associated with patients enrolled in hospice for different lengths of time before death. Cost savings to Medicare from hospice is typically associated only with patients enrolled 53 to 105 days prior to death, according to the study.
The current study used 2002-2008 data from the Health and Retirement Study and individual Medicare claims to determine savings for hospice patients enrolled for shorter lengths of time prior to death. The researchers compared costs to Medicare for each patient in hospice with costs for non-hospice patients. The authors identified the following savings to Medicare for each patient enrolled in hospice:
• Patients enrolled 53 to 105 days before death — $2,561
• Patients enrolled 15 to 30 days before death — $6,430
• Patients enrolled eight to 14 days before death — $5,040
• Patients enrolled one to seven days before death — $2,650
In addition, hospice patients at all lengths of enrollment had lower rates of hospital service use and in-hospital death than non-hospice patients.
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