Closing the Gap in Hospice Utilization for the Minority Medicare Population
Background: Medicare spends about 20% more on the last year of life for Black and Hispanic people than White people. With lower hospice utilization rates, racial/ethnic minorities receive fewer hospice-related benefits such as lesser symptoms, lower costs, and improved quality of life. For-profit ho...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2019-06-01
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| Series: | Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/2333721419855667 |
| _version_ | 1818546203724349440 |
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| author | M. Courtney Hughes PhD, MS Erin Vernon PhD, MA |
| author_facet | M. Courtney Hughes PhD, MS Erin Vernon PhD, MA |
| author_sort | M. Courtney Hughes PhD, MS |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Medicare spends about 20% more on the last year of life for Black and Hispanic people than White people. With lower hospice utilization rates, racial/ethnic minorities receive fewer hospice-related benefits such as lesser symptoms, lower costs, and improved quality of life. For-profit hospices have higher dropout rates than nonprofit hospices, yet target racial/ethnic minority communities more through community outreach. This analysis examined the relationship between hospice utilization and for-profit hospice status and conducted an economic analysis of racial/ethnic minority utilization. Method : Cross-sectional analysis of 2014 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), U.S. Census, and Hospice Analytics data. Measures included Medicare racial/ethnic minority hospice utilization, for-profit hospice status, estimated cost savings, and several demographic and socioeconomic variables. Results : The prevalence of for-profit hospices was associated with significantly increased hospice utilization among racial/ethnic minorities. With savings of about $2,105 per Medicare hospice enrollee, closing the gap between the White and racial/ethnic minority populations would result in nearly $270 million in annual cost savings. Discussion : Significant disparities in hospice use related to hospice for-profit status exist among the racial/ethnic minority Medicare population. CMS and state policymakers should consider lower racial/ethnic minority hospice utilization and foster better community outreach at all hospices to decrease patient costs and improve quality of life. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T07:50:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e9c01a19d33f4b26bf40d87a0ee33013 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2333-7214 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T07:50:04Z |
| publishDate | 2019-06-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-e9c01a19d33f4b26bf40d87a0ee330132022-12-22T00:32:28ZengSAGE PublishingGerontology and Geriatric Medicine2333-72142019-06-01510.1177/2333721419855667Closing the Gap in Hospice Utilization for the Minority Medicare PopulationM. Courtney Hughes PhD, MS0Erin Vernon PhD, MA1Relias Institute, Morrisville, NC, USASeattle University, WA, USABackground: Medicare spends about 20% more on the last year of life for Black and Hispanic people than White people. With lower hospice utilization rates, racial/ethnic minorities receive fewer hospice-related benefits such as lesser symptoms, lower costs, and improved quality of life. For-profit hospices have higher dropout rates than nonprofit hospices, yet target racial/ethnic minority communities more through community outreach. This analysis examined the relationship between hospice utilization and for-profit hospice status and conducted an economic analysis of racial/ethnic minority utilization. Method : Cross-sectional analysis of 2014 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), U.S. Census, and Hospice Analytics data. Measures included Medicare racial/ethnic minority hospice utilization, for-profit hospice status, estimated cost savings, and several demographic and socioeconomic variables. Results : The prevalence of for-profit hospices was associated with significantly increased hospice utilization among racial/ethnic minorities. With savings of about $2,105 per Medicare hospice enrollee, closing the gap between the White and racial/ethnic minority populations would result in nearly $270 million in annual cost savings. Discussion : Significant disparities in hospice use related to hospice for-profit status exist among the racial/ethnic minority Medicare population. CMS and state policymakers should consider lower racial/ethnic minority hospice utilization and foster better community outreach at all hospices to decrease patient costs and improve quality of life.https://doi.org/10.1177/2333721419855667 |
| spellingShingle | M. Courtney Hughes PhD, MS Erin Vernon PhD, MA Closing the Gap in Hospice Utilization for the Minority Medicare Population Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine |
| title | Closing the Gap in Hospice Utilization for the Minority Medicare Population |
| title_full | Closing the Gap in Hospice Utilization for the Minority Medicare Population |
| title_fullStr | Closing the Gap in Hospice Utilization for the Minority Medicare Population |
| title_full_unstemmed | Closing the Gap in Hospice Utilization for the Minority Medicare Population |
| title_short | Closing the Gap in Hospice Utilization for the Minority Medicare Population |
| title_sort | closing the gap in hospice utilization for the minority medicare population |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/2333721419855667 |
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