GAO Finds Medicare's Hospice Costs Up $12 Billion In Decade
Medicare hospice enrollment grew 32% to almost two million patients in 2024, and stays over 180 days consumed most of the total.
- Low-visit hospices logged 2.5 visits weekly, high-visit ones 5.5, yet earned more per visit.
- Law enforcement traced fraud schemes topping $100 million; CMS added reviews in six states.
- GAO wants Congress to swap the daily payment rate for per-visit billing; CMS cannot act alone.
Why it matters: Pay by the day instead of the visit and fewer visits become more profitable than care itself.
U.S. GAO blog citing GAO-26-107585 ↗ · Jul 15, 20267/15/26 · ✓ Checked✓ Check