This week, the House unanimously passed the bipartisan Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act (HR4313), also known as the hospital-at-home bill.
This bill, which was introduced by Republican Congressman Vern Buchanan, would extend the 2020 Acute Hospital Care at Home (AHCAH) program for another five years to continue allowing Medicare-certified hospitals to provide inpatient-level care in patients’ homes.
“At a time when our health care system is stretched thin, we need solutions like ‘Hospital at Home’ programs that help patients recover faster and get safe, high-quality care at a lower cost,” Buchanan, the vice chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee representing Florida’s 16th district, said in a statement Monday. “With hospitals under strain and chronic disease on the rise, today’s unanimous vote to extend this proven model reflects the kind of commonsense, bipartisan action Americans deserve. With nearly 200,000 seniors in my district, I’m grateful my colleagues and I can preserve a model that expands access and delivers real results for patients.”
Why It Matters
In 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) launched AHCAH initiative, which enables health systems to use remote monitoring technology, in-home nursing and rehabilitation visits, telehealth services for virtual doctors' visits and other technologies to provide care to patients recovering at home.
There are over 400 hospitals across 39 states participating in this program, which mostly helps elderly patients and those with respiratory, circulatory, renal and infectious diseases.
A CMS report from September 2024 found that AHCAH initiatives lowered mortality rates. And according to Sutter Health, the program has also lowered hospital admissions and increased patient satisfaction rates.
The program has been extended by Congress but expired at the end of September 2025. The new Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act would extend the AHCAH program through 2030.
What To Know
This bill was introduced to Congress in July 2025 with bipartisan support.
In addition to extending the ACHAH program, the Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act would also require CMS to conduct a study of the program to measure the quality of life, incurred costs, types of services and demographics of patients under this program compared to those in an inpatient setting.
In a thread on X, formerly Twitter, Buchanan listed the benefits of hospital-at-home programs. This includes cutting costs associated with traditional hospital stats, avoiding hospital bed shortages, accelerating recovery time, lowering mortality, reducing the risk of hospital-acquired infections and falls and improving patient outcomes.
Loading twitter content...
Several health organizations have also expressed their support for the bill.
In a statement to Newsweek, the American Hospital Association (AHA) said the five-year extension of hospital-at-home will not only provide additional time to continue gathering data on quality improvement, cost savings and patient experience, but will also provide much-needed stability for patients and providers.
In a letter of support for the bill, penned in September, the AHA said at-home care allows patients to be treated safely by their doctor and a team of medical professionals, along with the patient’s support system at home. The AHA also said it supports the bill’s measure that directs CMS to conduct a new study for the program. The organization said this would not only provide additional time to continue gathering data on quality improvement, cost savings and patient experience but would also provide much-needed stability for patients and providers.
"We applaud the House for recognizing the importance of this program and passing the bill with strong bipartisan support," the organization told Newsweek. "We now urge the Senate to take action to ensure long-term stability and continued access to high-quality care for patients."
The bill will now move on to a vote in the Senate.
What People Are Saying
Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.) said in a statement: “The Hospital at Home program has transformed hospital-level care for America’s seniors. Instead of having to stay alone in a hospital for treatment, seniors can receive care and recover at home surrounded by friends and family. With 23 hospitals participating in this program in his home state of Florida alone, I commend Health Subcommittee Chairman Buchanan for leading the charge to improve health outcomes and fighting to continue this program to give Americans better health care at a lower cost.”
Newsweek reached out to Congressman Buchanan for further comment.
Have an announcement or news to share? Contact the Newsweek Health Care team at [email protected].
Request Reprint & LicensingSubmit CorrectionView Editorial & AI Guidelines
Add Newsweek as a preferred source on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search.Recommended For You
BusinessNurses Push Back on AI Adoption at New York Hospitals8 min read
BusinessRad AI’s New Tool Aims to Improve Accuracy, Quality of Diagnostic Reporting4 min read
NewsAmazon Workers Voice ‘Serious Concerns’ Over Changes to Jobs5 min read
U.S.Black Friday Spending Raises Eyebrows Over US Economy8 min read
NewsList of Stores Closing in December4 min read
NewsList of Companies Being Boycotted in December3 min readTrending
WeatherList of Schools Closed Tuesday as Snowstorm Hits4 min read
ImmigrationGreen Card Update: New Changes for Holders in December6 min read
ViralCat Arrives at Vet for Neuter, Staff Not Ready for What’s in the Carrier3 min read
Winter StormWinter Storm Warning As 12 Inches of Snow To Hit: ‘Delay All Travel’3 min readBlack FridayBlack Friday Spending Raises Eyebrows Over US Economy8 min read
