Impact of the Affordable Care Act on palliative and hospice care utilization among patients with gastrointestinal cancers: An interrupted time series analysis

Impact of the Affordable Care Act on palliative and hospice care utilization among patients with gastrointestinal cancers: An interrupted time series analysis
Journal of Palliative Medicine; by Eshetu Worku, Selamawit Woldesenbet, Mujtaba Khalil, Timothy M Pawlik; 9/25
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) aimed to expand insurance coverage, improve health outcomes, and reduce costs. We assessed the impact of the ACA on hospice or palliative care utilization among [Medicare] patients with stage IV gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. Patients from minority racial groups ... and those in moderate ... and high ... Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) counties were less likely to use palliative care in both pre- and post-ACA eras. Palliative care use was associated with $2,633 lower total expenditure. Conclusion: ACA implementation did not improve palliative care utilization for racial minorities and high SVI groups.