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Some hospice programs and private health insurers are taking a new approach that may encourage more patients to receive hospice care for the last months of life, according to a report in the New York Times.

Previously, those who entered hospice programs have been forced to forgo additional medical care. This is changing, however, as increasing numbers of hospice programs and private insurance companies are allowing patients to receive medical treatments while participating in hospice care, according to the Times.

Aetna is experimenting with the so-called “open access” hospice program. The trail has shown that people are more likely to enroll in hospice care if they do not have to forgo medical treatment, according to the insurer. In addition, open access could help limit expensive and lengthy end-of-life hospital trips, the Times story said. The report suggests that the alternative to hospice for some people is expensive hospital care, which ultimately costs Medicare and other payers more.