Care transformation in palliative care: Leveraging a payor-provider partnership to fast-track growth of a palliative program

Care transformation in palliative care: Leveraging a payor-provider partnership to fast-track growth of a palliative program
Journal of Palliative Medicine; by Emily Jaffe, Emily Hobart, Alexandra Aiello, Amber Shergill, Amanda Harpster-Hagen, Tyson S. Barrett; 5/25
This study describes a unique partnership between an insurer and a provider to enhance the quality, availability, and access to palliative services. A retrospective cohort analysis of insurance claims data for patients receiving palliative care compared to a matched cohort not receiving palliative care services from 2019 through 2022. Outcomes demonstrated a total savings of $4,526,408 through reductions in costs for the treatment group compared to the control group for total cost of care .... The treatment group had lower skilled nursing facility ($1,049 ... ) and inpatient rehabilitation facility ($216 ... ) costs. The treatment group had higher rates of hospice care (83.7% in the treatment compared to 50.2% ... ) but had lower lengths of stay (four days compared to five ... ). Conclusions: Collaborative investment in a palliative program by a payor and provider system shows significant financial savings for an insurer when patients receive evidence-based palliative care near the end of life.