​Acute Hospital at Home Extension Bill Introduced

​The Hospital Inpatient Modernization Act (S3792/HR7053) was introduced earlier this month to extend the CMS waiver that was initiated during the pandemic to provide acute care to patients in their homes.   

According to co-sponsors U.S. Senators Rick Scott (R-SC), and Dan Carp (D-Delaware) this bill will extend the waiver for two years. 
 
“The Acute Hospital Care at Home program has revolutionized health care for many Americans by improving care while decreasing health risks associated with hospital stays,” said Scott.  “I’m proud to extend this program that will ease pressure on our health care system and allow thousands of vulnerable Americans to continue receiving quality care from the safety of their own home.”
 
“For the past two years, hospitals have endured the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic—and without missing a beat—nurses, doctors, and other medical professionals have continued to provide quality care to individuals affected by the virus and other personal medical conditions,” said Carper.
 
In November of 2020 when hospitals around our country were overloaded with patients due to the COVID-19 pandemic, CMS launched the “Acute Hospital Care At Home” waiver program to allow Medicare beneficiaries to receive acute-level health care services within their home. However, this waiver is set to expire at the end of the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.
 
Senators Carp and Scott’s bill would ensure that patients and providers have access to the waiver program for two years beyond the duration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.