A recent study reveals significant disparities in end-of-life home health care usage among Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollees, particularly affecting Hispanic and Asian or Pacific Islander communities. The research, published in JAMA Network Open, highlights that MA enrollees use less home health care compared to those in traditional Medicare (TM). This trend is especially pronounced among Hispanic decedents, who had 30 fewer home health days than their TM counterparts.
The study utilized data from the 2018-2019 Master Beneficiary Summary File to analyze home health care usage among U.S. adults aged 66 or older who died in 2019. Researchers found that MA enrollees, who are disproportionately from racially or ethnically minoritized communities, are less likely to receive home health services and use fewer days of care than TM enrollees. This disparity raises concerns about the adequacy of end-of-life care for these populations.
Home health care, funded by Medicare, provides essential support to homebound adults through services such as nursing, rehabilitation, and social work. However, the study indicates that Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black older adults access these services at lower rates than White adults. The researchers call for further investigation into the characteristics of MA plans and their impact on home health care usage, emphasizing the need to address these disparities to ensure equitable care for all.
See: “Medicare Advantage Enrollees Use Less End-of-Life Home Health Care, Study Finds” (January 30, 2025)
