Rural-Urban Disparities in the Delivery and Intensity of the Medicare Hospice Benefit.

Rural Medicare hospice patients experience significantly shorter stays, fewer staff visits, and higher rates of intensive care compared to urban patients.

• Why it matters: Understanding disparities in hospice care is crucial for addressing inequities and improving end-of-life quality for rural populations.
• What they did: The study analyzed cross-sectional data on Medicare beneficiaries, focusing on variables such as length of stay, care setting, staff visits, and higher-level care across rural and urban areas.
• The result: Findings reveal substantial differences in hospice care delivery, highlighting the need for targeted policies to reduce rural-urban disparities and enhance care equity.