Research published in JAMA Network found compared with Traditional Medicare beneficiaries, those in Medicare Advantage (MA) were more likely to enroll in hospice from community settings than following inpatient stays. However, hospice length of stay was not substantially different between MA and Traditional Medicare (TM).

Though the higher rate of MA descendants enrolling from the community narrowed over time (11.1% in 2011 to 8.1% in 2018), the association remained strong after a sensitivity analysis of the difference in populations utilizing MA versus TM.

Study authors argued further research is needed to understand how MA plans influence hospice use and the direct association with quality of end-of-life care, as reported by older adults and their families. This research may have impacts on the future implementation of the Value Based Insurance Design Hospice Component and any future carve-in of hospice to MA benefits.