Hospice care for Medicaid cancer patients in Puerto Rico: implications on healthcare costs and utilization.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Hospice services play an important role in end-of-life (EoL) care. In Puerto Rico, Medicaid had no provisions for hospice care until July 2024, representing a significant public health challenge. This study examined the association between hospice coverage policy and EoL outcomes among patients with cancer enrolled in Medicaid.

Methods

This population-based retrospective cohort study analyzed data of cancer patients enrolled in Medicaid from the Puerto Rico Central Cancer Registry between 2011 and 2022 who died of cancer between 2016 and 2022. Hospice enrollment was categorized into timeframes before death: 1-7, 8-14, 15-30, 31-90, 91-120, and 121-180 days. We compared total costs, healthcare utilization, and death in acute settings by hospice enrollment status.

SUBMITTER: Ortiz-Ortiz KJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12828692 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature