title: End-of-life care: an agenda for policy improvement.
abstract: Current arrangements for health care in the United States do not adequately address the needs of a growing population that has serious, eventually fatal chronic illness. New programs and policies are necessary to encourage coordination of care; better match services to the needs of patients; better provide education and incentives; and better support formal and informal caregivers. Models of end-of-life care, such as MediCaring, are described along with a research and policy agenda that focuses on modifying the health care system and building on new innovations.
authors.affiliation: RAND Corporation, 1700 Main Street, PO Box 2138, Santa Monica, CA 90407-2138, USA. Lisa_Shugarman@rand.org
authors.forename: Lisa R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Shugarman
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lorenz
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lynn
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006291:Health Policy; D006304:Health Status; D018575:Home Care Services, Hospital-Based; D017051:Hospice Care; D006801:Humans; D006278:Medicare; D010166:Palliative Care; D013727:Terminal Care; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States