John Oliver on US for-profit hospice care: ‘too important to just hope the free market fixes it'

08/21/24 at 02:00 AM

John Oliver on US for-profit hospice care: ‘too important to just hope the free market fixes it'
The Guardian; by Adrian Horton; 8/19/24
On the latest Last Week Tonight, John Oliver delved into the many issues with hospice care in the US. Doing so is “an almost offensive parody of this show”, he acknowledged. “If somebody else did that, it would genuinely be hurtful. But I promise this is worth talking about.” There are “lots of dedicated people work with hospices, providing huge relief for dying patients and their families, particularly those who want to remain at home”, such as the 1.8 million Americans who received end-of-life care at home last year. But like anything, hospice is subject to fraud, mismanagement and abuse. One government report estimated that hospice’s inappropriate billing costs Medicare hundreds of millions per year. ... “Hospice care, when done well, is hugely beneficial to those that are dying and their families. It is too important to just hope the free market fixes it,” Oliver concluded. “This industry badly needs reform. That’s clear.” [Click on links below for more information and responses.]

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Member Guide- Talking Points for Hospice Providers - Last Week Tonight with John Oliver [membership may be required to login]

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