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Differences in medical costs for end-of-life patients receiving traditional care and those receiving hospice care: A retrospective study

Author

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  • Ya-Ting Huang
  • Ying-Wei Wang
  • Chou-Wen Chi
  • Wen-Yu Hu
  • Rung Lin Jr
  • Chih-Chung Shiao
  • Woung-Ru Tang

Abstract

Background: Hospice care has a positive effect on medical costs. The correlation between survival time after receiving hospice care and medical costs has not been previously investigated in the literature on Taiwan. This study aimed to compare the differences in medical costs between traditional care and hospice care among end-of-life patients with cancer. Methods: Data from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance program on all patients who had passed away between 2010 and 2013 were used. Those whose year of death was between 2010 and 2013 were defined as end-of-life patients. The patients were divided into two groups: traditional care and hospice care. We then analyzed the differences in end-of-life medical cost between the two groups. Results: From 2010 to 2013, the proportion of patients receiving hospice care significantly increased from 22.2% to 41.30%. In the hospice group, compared with the traditional group, the proportions of hospital stays over 14 days and deaths in a hospital were significantly higher, but the proportions of outpatient clinic visits; emergency room admissions; intensive care unit admissions; use of ventilator; use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation; and use of hemodialysis, surgery, and chemotherapy were significantly lower. Total medical costs were significantly lower. A greater number of days of survival for end-of-life patients when receiving hospice care results in higher saved medical costs. Conclusion: Hospice care can effectively save a large amount of end-of-life medical costs, and more medical costs are saved when patients are referred to hospice care earlier.

Suggested Citation

  • Ya-Ting Huang & Ying-Wei Wang & Chou-Wen Chi & Wen-Yu Hu & Rung Lin Jr & Chih-Chung Shiao & Woung-Ru Tang, 2020. "Differences in medical costs for end-of-life patients receiving traditional care and those receiving hospice care: A retrospective study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(2), pages 1-21, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0229176
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229176
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Li-Fang Chang & Li-Fen Wu & Chi-Kang Lin & Ching-Liang Ho & Yu-Chun Hung & Hsueh-Hsing Pan, 2021. "Inpatient Hospice Palliative Care Unit and Palliative Consultation Service Enhance Comprehensive Quality of Life Outcomes in Terminally Ill Cancer Patients: A Prospective Longitudinal Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-12, August.
    2. Hui-Mei Lin & Yen-Chun Huang & Chieh-Wen Ho & Mingchih Chen, 2022. "Analysis of Palliative Care Utilization and Medical Expenses among Patients with Chronic Diseases in Taiwan: A Population-Based Cohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-12, October.
    3. Huijing Lin & Eunjeong Ko & Bei Wu & Ping Ni, 2022. "Hospice Care Preferences and Its Associated Factors among Community-Dwelling Residents in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-12, July.

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