Early Lessons Learned From CMS’ Hospital-At-Home Initiative
Home Health Care News December 20, 2024
In response to hospital capacity challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) collaborated with external experts to create the Acute Hospital Care at Home (AHCAH) initiative. This initiative will expire on Dec. 31 unless Congress extends it. After three years of implementation, early insights regarding quality, costs and care have begun to shape the future of this program and similar initiatives.
CMS initially launched the Hospital Without Walls initiative in March 2020, using authorities under the Social Security Act that allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to waive or modify specific facility standards during public health emergencies.
Building on this initiative, CMS introduced the AHCAH program in November 2020. This...