Nearly 60 percent of Medicare hospice spending in 2020 was for patients with stays exceeding 180 days.
Medicare hospice spending, 2020 (in billions)
- All hospice users in 2020: $22.4
- Beneficiaries with LOS > 180 days: $13.3
- Days 1-180: $4.2
- Days 181-365: $4.1
- Days 366+: $4.9
- Beneficiaries with LOS ≤ 180 days: $9.2
Note: LOS (length of stay). “LOS” reflects the beneficiary’s lifetime LOS as of the end of 2020 (or at the time of discharge in 2020 if the beneficiary was not enrolled in hospice at the end of 2020). All spending reflected in the table occurred only in 2020. Breakout groups do not sum to totals because of rounding.
Source: MedPAC analysis of 100 percent hospice claims standard analytical file and an Acumen LLC data file on hospice lifetime length of stay (which is based on an analysis of historical claims data).
Other Articles You Might Enjoy
Study Links Discharge Planning to Readmissions
The study identified six areas of possible change to the discharge planning process to reduce instances of unplanned hospital readmissions.
High-Need Patients: Utilization of Home Care
Finding ways to improve outcomes and reduce spending for patients with complex and costly care needs requires an understanding of their unique needs and characteristics.
Message From Lisa Remington
September/October 2024 Issue
FREE CONTENT The Remington Report identifies multiple ways for your organization to get positioned competitively and gain referrals with ACOs, physicians, hospitals and health systems, and bundled payments. Get all the information you need in one magazine.
