Better outcomes, lower costs: palliative care program reduces stress, costs of care for children with life-threatening conditions
Publication year: 2012
This policy brief examines the
Partners for Children (PFC) program—California’s
public pediatric community-based palliative
care benefit to children living with life-threatening
conditions and their families. Preliminary analysis
of administrative and survey data indicates that
participation in the PFC program improves
quality of life for the child and family. In addition,
participation in the program resulted in a
one-third reduction in the average number of
days spent in the hospital. Shifting care from a
hospital setting to in-home community-based
care resulted in cost savings of $1,677 per child
per month on average—an 11% decrease in
spending on a traditionally high-cost population.
As the three-year pilot program draws to an end,
policymakers are considering the advisability of
extending the program beyond the 11 counties
that now participate. This policy brief provides
recommendations that policymakers, families and
advocates should consider to ensure sustainability
and successful expansion of the program.