What's Happening?
Vivalink, a digital healthcare solutions provider, has partnered with the Connected Health Collaborative Community (CHCC) to create a national framework for Hospital-at-Home (HaH) programs. This initiative, titled 'Advancing a Sustainable Hospital-at-Home Ecosystem at Scale,' aims to guide hospitals and health systems in developing, implementing, and scaling HaH programs. The blueprint was developed with input from leading health systems, payors, and technology partners, and is co-hosted by the Digital Medicine Society (DiMe) and the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), with sponsorship from UMass Chan Medical School’s Program in Digital Medicine. The urgency of this initiative is underscored by the impending expiration of the Acute Hospital Care at Home (AHCAH) program at the end of September 2025, which currently allows in-home care to be reimbursed at the same rate as in-person care. Without an extension from Congress, hospitals may lose the financial support necessary to sustain these programs.
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Why It's Important?
The development of a sustainable Hospital-at-Home model is crucial as it represents a significant innovation in healthcare delivery, offering improved patient outcomes and reduced costs. The potential expiration of the AHCAH program poses a financial threat to the continuation of these programs, which have been gaining traction in the U.S. The blueprint by Vivalink and CHCC provides a strategic approach to maintaining these programs, aligning with broader goals of health equity and innovation. If the reimbursement model is not extended, hospitals may have to pause or scale back their HaH initiatives, which could hinder the progress made in this area. The success of HaH programs in other countries highlights their potential impact on the U.S. healthcare system.
What's Next?
The future of Hospital-at-Home programs in the U.S. hinges on Congressional action regarding the AHCAH program's reimbursement waiver. If the waiver is not extended, hospitals will need to explore alternative funding mechanisms to sustain these programs. Stakeholders, including health systems, payors, and technology partners, may need to advocate for policy changes to ensure the continuation of HaH initiatives. The blueprint developed by Vivalink and CHCC could serve as a critical resource for health systems navigating these challenges, providing scalable solutions and real-world insights to deploy HaH models effectively.
