Taylor JS, et al. - Using Texas Cancer Registry-Medicare data, researchers assessed inequalities in hospice enrollment and costs in elders with ovarian cancer. They assessed 2331 patients (1,788 white, 359 Hispanic, 158 black and 26 other). They noted enrollment of 1,756 patients in hospice before death, but only 68% died in hospice. They observed a median $38,530 paid by Medicare during the last 6 months of life for those in hospice vs $49,942 for those who never enrolled in hospice. The cost was higher for black and Hispanic patients vs white patients. A higher risk of unenrolling from hospice was seen in black ovarian cancer patients vs white patients. After unenrollment from hospice, one-third of patients had at least one life extending or invasive care procedure.