The Evolution Of Hospice From Its Charitable Roots To Big Business
Bloomberg: Preparing Americans for Death Lets Hospices Neglect End of Life
As hospice care has evolved from its charitable roots into a $14 billion business run mostly for profit, patients ... and their families have paid a steep price, according to lawsuits and federal investigations. Providers have been accused of boosting their revenues with patients who aren't near death and not eligible for hospice - people healthy enough to live a long time with traditional medical care. In hospices, patients give up their rights to "curative" measures because they are presumed to be futile (Waldman, 7/22).
Earlier, related KHN News coverage: Growing Hospice Care Costs Bring Concerns About Misuse (Rau, 6/27).
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