Charity at the Deathbed: Impacts of Public Funding Changes on Hospice Care

Abstract

A core hospice value is caring for dying individuals regardless of their ability to pay. Historically, a stable source of government funding has provided the financial cushion necessary to extend care to indigent patients. Recently however, 2 factors have challenged the charitable-care value. First, financial reserves have been constrained by regulatory actions limiting admissions, lengths of stay, and reimbursement levels. Second, the number of uninsured individuals has increased. This study of hospices in 17 states found that hospices (1) remain committed to indigent care despite deep concerns about inadequate financial resources, (2) are encountering increased demand for services from indigent patients, (3) are currently covering indigent-care costs, but are pessimistic about their future ability to do so, and (4) are pursuing alternative funding with mixed results.