Why Is End-of-Life Spending So High? Evidence from Cancer Patients
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rest_a_01066.pdf
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Published version
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517.63 KB
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Author(s)
Zeltzer, Dan
Einav, Liran
Finkelstein, Amy
Shir, Tzvi
Stemmer, Salomon M
Balicer, Ran D
Date Issued
2021
Journal
The Review of Economics and Statistics
Publisher
MIT Press - Journals
Citation
Zeltzer, Dan, Einav, Liran, Finkelstein, Amy, Shir, Tzvi, Stemmer, Salomon M et al. 2021. "Why Is End-of-Life Spending So High? Evidence from Cancer Patients." The Review of Economics and Statistics.
Version
Final published version
Abstract
Abstract
We study the sources of high end-of-life spending for cancer patients. Even among patients with similar initial prognoses, spending in the year post diagnosis is over twice as high for those who die within the year than those who survive. Elevated spending on decedents is predominantly driven by higher inpatient spending, particularly low-intensity admissions. However, most such admissions do not result in death, making it difficult to target spending reductions. Furthermore, end-of-life spending is substantially more elevated for younger patients, compared to older patients with similar prognosis. Results highlight sources of high end-of-life spending without revealing any natural “remedies.”
We study the sources of high end-of-life spending for cancer patients. Even among patients with similar initial prognoses, spending in the year post diagnosis is over twice as high for those who die within the year than those who survive. Elevated spending on decedents is predominantly driven by higher inpatient spending, particularly low-intensity admissions. However, most such admissions do not result in death, making it difficult to target spending reductions. Furthermore, end-of-life spending is substantially more elevated for younger patients, compared to older patients with similar prognosis. Results highlight sources of high end-of-life spending without revealing any natural “remedies.”
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Economics
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DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1162/REST_A_01066
