The fifth and final evaluation of the Medicare Care Choices Model (MCCM) was released by CMS in November. The model, which concluded in December 2021, tested whether offering eligible Medicare beneficiaries the option to receive supportive and palliative care services through hospices without forgoing treatment for their terminal illness improved their quality of life. The final analysis of the 5,153 beneficiaries who enrolled in the demonstration and died by December 2021 found that Medicare Part A and B expenses were 17% less than their comparison group. This group also had 26% lower inpatient hospital admissions and 12% fewer outpatient ED visits and observation stays. The final analysis also saw an increase in the use of hospice. MCCM enrollees were 18 percentage points more likely to use the hospice benefit. Finally, beneficiaries were less likely to receive aggressive interventions in the last 30 days of life and they spent 5 more days at home than other beneficiaries.
