Half of 2.5 million Medicare decedents utilized hospice care in 2024, according to the National Alliance for Care at Home and The Research Institute for Home Care’s 2025 Hospice Chartbook. The report, which was published in February, explored the demographics and characteristics of hospice users, stays, providers, care delivery and Medicare spending. 
 
Of the $956 billion spent on Medicare in 2024, only $28.2 billion — or 2.6% — was spent on hospice services, with the average Medicare payment for a day of care costing $191.  
 
While around half of hospice stays lasted 30 days or less, the national average length of stay was 89 days. 
 
The report authors also examined the most common service locations for hospice under Medicare. The majority of Medicare hospice services were provided at a patient’s residence, followed by assisted living facilities, nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities.