Disparities in end-of-life care: A retrospective study on intensive care utilization and advance care planning in the Colorado all-payer claims database

Disparities in end-of-life care: A retrospective study on intensive care utilization and advance care planning in the Colorado all-payer claims database
American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine; by Darcy Holladay Ford, Kimberly Landry, Megha Jha, Martha Meyer; 3/25
Intensive end-of-life (EOL) care is emotionally and financially burdensome, disproportionally negatively impacting racial and ethnic minorities, rural residents, and lower socioeconomic seniors. ICU Stays: Hispanic/Latino, Asian, and Black members had increased ICU stays compared to Whites ... However, members without ACP [advance care planning] and rural residents had lower ICU stays ... ED Visits: Hispanic/Latino, Asian, Black members, non-dually eligible members (Medicare Fee for Service (MFFS) + Medicaid), and rural residents had increased ED visits ... Meanwhile, members without ACP or hospice care had lower ED visits ... 30-day Readmissions: Asian members and rural residents had increased 30-day readmissions ... In contrast, those on MFFS and not on Medicaid, members without ACP, and those not in hospice care had decreased 30-day readmissions ...