Tag Archives: unnecessary care

Unnecessary Surgeries Prevalent Among Patients Nearing End of Life

The reasons and risks for unnecessary surgeries

Surgeries near the end of life are extremely common. According to The Lancet, among those who died aged 65 or older in the United States in 2008, nearly one third underwent surgery in the last year of life, and almost one-fifth … Continue reading

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For-Profit Hospice Facilities More Likely to Overbill Medicare

Study finds that many patients receive more treatment than they need

Recently, a woman was treated as an in-patient at a for-profit hospice facility for a total of 51 days. The problem? Her symptoms were already well-managed, and she only needed occasional help with eating and taking her medication. Researchers found that … Continue reading

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