CMMI Increasing Patient and System Value with Community Based Palliative Care

Ten percent of Medicare beneficiaries account for over half of total program spending and more than one-quarter of that spending is incurred during the last year of life. Four Seasons Hospice along with its collaborative partners Catawba Regional Hospice and Duke University have been awarded a CMMI grant in order to prove that community palliative care reduces costs of care for patients with advanced or life limiting illness.  This project will be an opportunity to achieve the “Triple Crown of Healthcare”, higher quality, better service and lower costs.  In addition, the project is expected to result in a future reimbursement model for those who provide sustainable palliative care.