Relationship of Advance Directives to Hospital Charges in a Medicare Population

The results of this study imply that an enormous cost savings to society may be realized if such discussions of advance directives take place, while, at the same time, autonomous patient choice will be respected.

Abstract

During discussions of advance directives, patients often opt to limit the extent of care they desire in certain situations. Although the most appropriate setting for developing advance directives is not clear, the results of this study imply that an enormous cost savings to society may be realized if such discussions take place, while, at the same time, autonomous patient choice will be respected.