Hospice Care Reduces End-of-Life Costs, UCLA Study Finds
A marked increase in the use of hospice care could help lower end-of-life costs, according to a new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. For the study, UCLA researchers reviewed cases of terminally ill prostate cancer patients and found that those who were enrolled in hospice care were 20% less likely to receive high-intensity treatment. Hospice patients also received fewer imaging tests, which are costly and have been shown to provide no significant benefits for dying prostate cancer patients.
- "End-of-Life Care Costs Continue To Climb Upward" (Harding, Reuters, 10/14).