Trends in Medicare Payments for Non-Hospice Services During Hospice Elections
Author Information
Author(s): Christian Thomas, Michael Plotzke
Primary Institution: Abt Associates
Hypothesis
What are the trends in Medicare beneficiary payments for non-hospice services during hospice elections?
Conclusion
In FY2022, Medicare beneficiaries paid a significant amount for non-hospice services during hospice elections, with disparities based on demographics and hospice characteristics.
Supporting Evidence
- Medicare paid $931.1 million for non-hospice services during hospice election in FY2022.
- Beneficiaries were billed $206.8 million, with 45.0% of hospice beneficiaries paying some amount.
- Part B accounted for most (88.9%) of the total beneficiary payments.
- Daily payment rates varied significantly between different hospice quality ratings.
Takeaway
When people choose hospice care, they can still get other medical services, but they might have to pay a lot for them, especially if they are younger or from certain backgrounds.
Methodology
The study analyzed Medicare claims data to assess beneficiary payments for overlapping hospice and non-hospice services using linear regression.
Participant Demographics
Beneficiaries included those who are black or Hispanic, younger, have terminal heart disease, dual-eligible for Medicaid, in nursing facilities, or from newer, for-profit, or southern hospices.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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