Spillovers of Veterans Hospice Care: The Economic and Social Impact of Palliative Care

Abstract

In exchange for military service in the United States, soldiers are promised a benefits package inclusive of health and education benefits after the completion of their service. While the economic effects of the defense-growth relationship have been studied extensively, this paper takes a unique approach to understanding the relationship between veterans and society by investigating the social and economic spillovers of veterans’ hospice care. The study shows that as an early adopter of hospice care, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs maximized its efficiency through sponsoring innovative research on geriatric care, introducing competition into the health sector, and legitimizing death and dying among aging populations.