Cost and Utilization Implications of a Health Plan's Home-Based Palliative Care Program.

A California-based health plan offered home-based palliative care (HBPC) to members who needed support at home but did not yet qualify for hospice. This study compares hospital and emergency department (ED) utilization and costs and mortality for individuals receiving HBPC to a cohort not receiving palliative care services (Usual Care). This is an observational retrospective study using claims data covering a prestudy period and a study period during which time half of the study population received HBPC services.