From a recent paper by David Stevenson and colleagues:
Our analyses build on previous research finding greater hospice use in MA [Medicare Advantage] versus TM [Traditional Medicare] by revealing a narrowing difference in hospice enrollment and generally comparable length-of-use trends. MA plans have strong financial incentives to enroll patients in hospice, because they are not financially responsible for care of these relatively costly individuals once they enroll in hospice. Although these financial incentives were unchanged, TM hospice enrollment grew almost twice as fast as MA hospice enrollment over the study period, perhaps suggesting a broader recognition of hospice’s potential benefits and a more active effort by hospice agencies to increase enrollment.
