Hospice Disenrollment Affects 1 in 16 Patients Who Improve

Approximately 6% of hospice patients are discharged from hospice care when their condition improves or stabilizes, losing eligibility under Medicare's requirement that patients have a life expectancy of six months or less. These disenrollments affect patients and families who must navigate care transitions after receiving terminal diagnoses. The practice reflects Medicare hospice benefit certification requirements that physicians must recertify terminal prognosis at specific intervals. This matters for Medicaid beneficiaries eligible for hospice through their state programs, as Medicaid hospice benefits typically mirror Medicare eligibility standards, and disenrollment can disrupt continuity of care for dually eligible individuals.

Long-Term Care · Managed Care