CMS updates hospice statistics
CMS updates hospice statistics
The average length of stay for hospice patients has increased from 48 days in 1998 to 71 days in 2008, a 48% increase, according to the latest hospice statistics released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
The statistics also show that the frequency of some hospice terminal diagnoses has changed over time. The percentage of all Medicare hospice patients with a terminal diagnosis of cancer dropped from 52.8% in 1998 to 31.1% in 2008. Lung cancer has been recognized as the most common diagnosis among Medicare hospice patients every year since 1998; but in 2006, non-Alzheimer's dementia became the most common diagnosis. Lung cancer diagnoses dropped from 16% of all hospice patients in 1998 to 9% in 2008.
To see a copy of the full report on updated hospice statistics, including the 20 most frequent diagnoses, the number of patients, average length of stay, and trends over time in length of stay, by diagnosis, go to www.cms.hhs.gov/center/hospice.asp.
The average length of stay for hospice patients has increased from 48 days in 1998 to 71 days in 2008, a 48% increase, according to the latest hospice statistics released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).Subscribe Now for Access
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