A study by Estudios Técnicos, Inc. (ETI), conducted in partnership with Grace Health Puerto Rico, found that the hospice care industry contributes approximately $142 million in economic activity to Puerto Rico and supports about 1,417 direct, indirect and induced jobs, generating close to $48 million in annual payroll. The study, titled 'Estudio sobre el perfil, impacto y costo-beneficio de los servicios de hospicio en Puerto Rico,' also found the sector generates roughly $14 million in fiscal revenues.
Estimates were calculated using the Puerto Rico Planning Board's Input-Output model. Economist Graham Castillo, president of ETI, said hospice services that prioritize symptom management and person-centered care can reduce reliance on intensive medical interventions and prolonged hospitalizations at end of life, representing a more efficient use of medical resources and a dignified, more cost-effective alternative for terminally ill patients cared for at home.
The study was sponsored by Grace Health Puerto Rico, part of Ascend Health, an organization that has provided specialized home health services since 1995 for patients facing advanced and terminal illnesses. This is described as the first study of the hospice industry in Puerto Rico.