Hospice enrollment and central nervous system–active medication prescribing to Medicare decedents with dementia

Hospice enrollment and central nervous system–active medication prescribing to Medicare decedents with dementia 
JAMA Psychiatry; by Lauren B. Gerlach, DO, MS; Lan Zhang, PhD; Joan Teno, MD, MS; Donovan T. Maust, MD, MS; 7/17/24  
Central nervous system (CNS)–active medications, including benzodiazepines and antipsychotics, are commonly prescribed in hospice for behavioral and physical symptom management.¹ Such medications are not without risks, especially among patients living with Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD), where potential harms may outweigh benefits for some patients.² We explored the extent to which hospice enrollment is associated with CNS–active medication exposure among Medicare decedents with ADRD.