Matej Mikulic
Research expert covering health, pharma & medtech
Hospice and end-of-life care in the U.S. - Statistics & Facts
Hospice care in the United States is at a crossroads, facing both challenges and opportunities. As Medicare hospice spending continues to rise, reaching a staggering $25.8 billion in 2023 and projected to more than double by 2033, concerns about potential fraud are growing. On the other hand, there's also evidence of significant Medicare savings through longer hospice care. Interestingly, these financial implications coincide with a growing awareness and appreciation for end-of-life care options among older adults. But what is hospice care? Hospice care is for people who have six months or less to live due to an illness or condition. Rather than attempting to cure the illness, the goal of this end-of-life care is to keep the patient comfortable and pain-free so they may have the best possible quality of life in their final months. Hospice neither prolongs life nor hastens death. Instead, it allows an illness to take its natural course while providing physical comfort and emotional and spiritual support to the person and their loved ones in the process of dying.
