Jingjing Shang Receives $2.8 Million NIA Grant to Study Private Equity Ownership and Hospice Outcomes

Professor Jingjing Shang, PhD, has received a four-year, approximately $2.8 million grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) of the National Institutes of Health for the Hospice carE After increaseD private-equity acquisitiON (HEAD-ON) project. NIA is the federal government's leading agency for supporting and conducting Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) research. 

The project examines how the growing private equity ownership of hospice agencies may be associated with hospice use, care quality, and end-of-life outcomes for people with ADRD. The study addresses critical gaps in understanding the implications of private equity ownership on hospice care for this population.  

“The hospice industry is undergoing a profound transformation at the same time that a growing number of people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias are relying on hospice care," Shang said.  

“Our team was motivated by the rapid growth of private equity ownership in hospice and the critical gaps in understanding what these changes mean for patients and families. We will use national Medicare data together with interviews with hospice professionals, referring professionals, family caregivers, and patient advocates to examine if there are any downstream implications for care.” 

The findings are expected to inform practical, evidence-based recommendations to support access to high-quality hospice and end-of-life care for people with ADRD and their families.