Research examines how different Medicare plans impact end-of-life care decisions and outcomes for patients with life-limiting illnesses.
- Research by Lauren Hersch Nicholas and her colleagues analyzed the experiences of over a million people on different versions of Medicare at the end of their lives.
- Patients’ enrollment in Traditional Medicare or Medicare Advantage Plans can impact the treatments they receive and where they die – whether in a hospital or hospice care.
- Medicare Advantage was associated with less aggressive health care utilization, but concerns remain about access to necessary treatments for end-of-life patients.
- The study found that Medicare Advantage patients were less likely to receive burdensome treatments and more likely to die in the hospital if hospitalized, compared to Traditional Medicare patients.
- The research highlights the importance of family communication about end-of-life care preferences and the need to address potential gaps in care for Medicare patients.
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Medicare, End-of-life care, Palliative care, Hospice care, Critical Care, Internal Medicine, Nursing