AHA-supported bill would extend hospital at home waiver program   

The AHA today voiced support for the Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act (H.R. 7053 /S. 3792), bipartisan legislation that would extend the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ acute hospital care at home waiver program two years beyond the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Established to expand hospital capacity and protect practitioners and patients from COVID-19 exposure, the program waives certain nursing requirements so hospitals and health systems can care for qualified Medicare patients at home.   
   
“These hospital at home programs have been and continue to be reliable and impactful vehicles to deliver effective care, lead to high patient satisfaction, and, for some patients, result in shorter recovery times,” AHA said in a letter to the House and Senate sponsors, Reps. Brad Wenstrup, R-Ohio, and Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., and Sens. Tom Carper, D-Del., and Tim Scott, R-S.C. “… As you consider action beyond the two year waiver extension set forth in your legislation, we would welcome the opportunity to work with you and CMS to establish and implement a permanent version of the program that enables qualified patients to receive safe and effective hospital-level care in the comfort and safety of their home.”