Pending Waiver Expiry Threatens Home-Based Acute Care Services
HealthCare Dive
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Contributed by: Kate Gamble
Summary
The impending expiration of waivers allowing acute care in patients' homes is raising alarms among healthcare providers as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' Acute Hospital Care at Home Program faces reauthorization uncertainty. Currently utilized by nearly 380 hospitals across 37 states, this program has been crucial for managing patient surges while ensuring reimbursement for home care services. If Congress does not intervene, hospitals may be required to revert patients to inpatient facilities, potentially leading to costly relocations, strained resources, and increased risks of medical complications. This situation highlights the need for stable policy support to maintain innovative care models that alleviate hospital capacity challenges.
