This study analyzed end-of-life outcomes for cancer patients enrolled in the Oncology Care Model who received palliative care services compared to those who did not. Patients who saw palliative care were more likely to have a do-not-resuscitate code status documented at death and had lower non-hospice health care spending in the last 30 days of life. Initial code status, but not final status, was associated with lower acute care spending. The results further demonstrate the value of early palliative care intervention in reducing costs and improving end-of-life care and utilization.

1. 69%
38%
17%
24%
15%
54%
4%
47%
17%
8%
79%
28%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Pall Care No PC Pall Care No PC
Full Code None DNR/DNI
INTRODUCTION
• In 2016 ASCO recommended that patients with
advanced cancer receive dedicated palliative care
(PC) services1. Early PC involvement is
associated with lower spending, fewer 30-day
readmission rates, decreased chemotherapy
administration at the end of life (EOL) and
increased hospice referrals2.
• Many patients are not referred and continue to
receive chemotherapy and utilize high-acuity
services near the EOL.
• The Oncology Care Model (OCM) is a CMS
episode-based alternative payment
model promoting high-value care.
• We evaluated the effect of PC visits on EOL
outcomes including code status (CS) and
spending in the last 30 days of life.
METHODS AND MATERIALS
• Identified OCM patients with episodes April 1
2016- July 1 2018 with GI and H&N
malignancies who had died and had 2 or more
visits with a medical oncologist at Sidney Kimmel
Cancer Center.
• Conducted a retrospective chart review and
collected data on cancer stage at diagnosis,
tumor type, palliative care consultation
(inpatient or outpatient), code status
documentation, and demographics including zip
code and marital status.
• Code status (CS) was recorded at the start of each
episode and at the time of death.
• Data were analyzed to determine if associations
exist between palliative care visits and lower
non-hospice spending, chemotherapy and
inpatient utilization, as well as improved
documentation of CS.
RESULTS DISCUSSION
• Hypothesis: PC intervention is associated with greater
documentation of CS before death, as well as lower
spending and utilization of chemotherapy or acute care
in the last 30 days of life.
• Rates of outpatient PC referral were low (18% of
patients).
• PC intervention is associated with improved CS
documentation.
• Patients who saw PC were significantly more likely to
have a DNR/DNI code status at death.
• Initial DNR status is associated with lower acute care
spending, whereas final CS was not.
• Initial CS is an important variable linking early PC
intervention to lower spending.
CONCLUSION
• Our analysis of OCM patients further demonstrates
the value of early PC intervention not only on cost
reduction but also on EOL care and utilization.
• PC intervention was most notably associated with lower
spending at EOL.
• We plan to continue this project to expand data analysis
to include more OCM patients with other solid tumors.
REFERENCES
1. Integration of Palliative Care Into Standard Oncology Care: American
Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline Update. Ferrell, B.
R., et. al., Journal of Clinical Oncology 2017 35:1, 96-112
2. Standardized Criteria for Palliative Care Consultation on Solid Tumor
Oncology Service Reduces Downstream Health Care Use. Adelson, K., et.
al., Journal of Oncology Practice 2017 13:5, e431-e440
Abstract ID: 45
Correspondence: alg027@jefferson.edu
Impact of Palliative Care Consultation on End of Life Care Measures:
A Retrospective Analysis of Patients in the Oncology Care Model
Alison Greidinger, Maria Vershvovsky, Evan Lapinsky, Alison Rhoades, Amy Leader, Vittorio Maio,
Jared Minetola, Karen Walsh, Valerie Csik, Ruben Rhoades
Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Code Status By Palliative Care vs. None
Non-Hospice Spending by
Initial Code Status
Non-Hospice Spending by
Final Code Status
Any Palliative Care Intervention
Figure 1. Proportion of
patients who had ever seen
Palliative Care in the inpatient
or outpatient setting
Figure 2.
Distribution of
initial and final
code statuses for
patients who had
seen Palliative Care
as compared to
those who had
never seen
Palliative Care
Figures 3 & 4. Comparison of mean and median non-hospice spending for
patients by initial versus final documented code status
Initial Final
$16,867
$10,789
$12,614
$10,508
$11,272
$6,788
$-
$2,000
$4,000
$6,000
$8,000
$10,000
$12,000
$14,000
$16,000
$18,000
Mean Median
Full Code None DNR/DNI
$13,209
$4,041
$12,371
$10,188
$15,889
$13,634
$-
$2,000
$4,000
$6,000
$8,000
$10,000
$12,000
$14,000
$16,000
$18,000
Mean Median
Full Code None DNR/DNI