Rates Of Leaving Acute-Care Hospitalizations Against Medical Advice Rose For Medicare Beneficiaries From 2006 Through 2019, Then Spiked During COVID

On August 18, 2025, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' Office of Inspector General published a report that found that the rate of enrollees who left hospitalizations against medical advice (AMA) increased from approximately 0.68% of discharges in 2006 to 0.99% of discharges in 2019. During the COVID public health emergency (PHE), the rates increased to as much as 1.17% before dropping down to 1% in 2023, a rate still slightly higher than the pre-PHE level.

Enrollees with decision-making capacity are empowered to discharge themselves and leave AMA, the report stated. Leaving . . .