THE CONNECTION SPHERE
Articles
Palliative Care Utilization Trends/Impact on Hospital Utilization
written by Isabelle Kwak August, 2025
In the years prior to the Care Planning Act (CPA), palliative care (PC) utilization among high-risk lung cancer admissions was steadily increasing, but the implementation of the policy in 2016 marked a deceleration in this upward trend—suggesting an underlying issue with utilization. An interrupted time series analysis revealed that post-implementation of the CPA (2016-2021), the probability of PC utilization (PC utilization (independent variable) / total admissions (dependent variable)) grew at a deceleration, despite PC’s association with reduced hospital stays (1.22 days) and costs per admission). To amplify the benefits of PC utilization, policymakers should address the barriers post-PC implementation, such as increasing PC availability and targeting disparities in racial/ethnic minorities, where utilization and awareness tend to lag behind.
Figure 1. Interrupted time series of palliative care utilization among high-risk mortality lung cancer admission before (2002-2015) and after (2016-2021) Care Planning Act[1]
[1] Note: While this analysis captures real palliative care utilization rates, trends may reflect influences beyond the CPA, including broader health policy changes, institutional practice patterns, and/or even patient preferences.
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Works Cited
Hwang, Jinwook, et al. “Palliative care utilization trends and impact on hospital utilization among lung cancer admission with high-risk mortality over two decades: A Role of Care Planning Act.” Discover Health Systems, 2025.