Medicare Might Encourage Hospices To Treat Patients Who Need Less Care, HHS OIG Report Says

Medicare reimbursement policies might be encouraging hospices to take in patients who require less care and avoid patients with greater needs, according to an HHS Office of Inspector General report. The report offered several recommendations, such as more closely tying reimbursements to patient need and providing consumers with more information about hospice care.

• "How the Drive for Profits Is Shaping End-of-Life Care" (Whoriskey, "Wonkblog," Washington Post, 1/14).
• "Assisted Living Facilities Are Prime Settings for Questionable Hospice Care, OIG Finds" (Mullaney, McKnight's Long-Term Care News, 1/15).