[Palliative care at the end of life in Germany : Utilization and regional distribution].

ABSTRACT:

Background

Palliative care supply increased in Germany in recent years. But how many people use which forms of palliative care and how does this differ between regions?

Method

Retrospective cohort study with claims data from insured persons who died in 2016: Based on services billed at least once in the last six months of life, we determined the use of primary palliative care (PPC), specialized palliative homecare (SPHC), as well as inpatient palliative and hospice care, using regional billing codes for PPC and SPHC services for the first time.

Results

Of the 95,962 deceased in the study population, 32.7% received palliative care nationwide, with variations from 26.4% in Bremen to 40.8% in Bavaria. PPC services were billed at 24.4% (16.9% in Brandenburg to 34.1% in Ba

SUBMITTER: Ditscheid B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7686196 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature