From March 10, 2022 post.
Congressmen Brad Wenstrup, D.P.M., (R-Ohio) and Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), and Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Tom Carper (D-Del.) introduced the Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act to establish a two year extension of the Acute Hospital Care at Home COVID-19 waiver brought on by the pandemic and require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to conduct a thorough review of the program.
"The COVID-19 pandemic exposed deficiencies in our current health care system, and forced us to develop new, innovative solutions to deliver care for patients. As a Co-Chair of the GOP Doctors Caucus and a physician, I recognize the value of giving providers more tools to offer appropriate methods of care, one being in the comfort of patients’ homes,” said Congressman Wenstrup. "Everyone has different treatment needs and plans, and we must make sure that people have continued access to these options as Congress reviews how to make the initial flexibilities from the pandemic more permanent in an appropriate manner."
"Delivering health care in more innovative ways has been one of the few silver linings of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Congressman Blumenauer. "Extending the Hospital At Home waiver, which permits treatment for many common acute conditions such as asthma and pneumonia, will allow more hospitals and health systems to participate in this program which has the potential to alleviate Oregon’s health care needs and modernize our health care system."
"The Acute Hospital Care at Home program has revolutionized health care for many Americans by improving care while decreasing health risks associated with hospital stays," said Senator Scott. "I’m proud to extend this program that will ease pressure on our health care system and allow thousands of vulnerable Americans to continue receiving quality care from the safety of their own home."
"For the past two years, hospitals have endured the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic—and without missing a beat—nurses, doctors, and other medical professionals have continued to provide quality care to individuals affected by the virus and other personal medical conditions,” said Senator Carper. "Overrun with patients infected by the virus, hospitals like ChristianaCare in Delaware had to quickly adapt in order to treat patients with other medical needs—such as the creation of innovative programs to provide hospital-level care to patients in their homes. I’m proud to introduce this bill with my friend Senator Scott that will modernize our health care system and ensure that investments in programs to bring hospital care to patients at home can continue to go on."
Background:
In November 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the Acute Hospital Care at Home Waiver, which permitted acute-level care to be delivered to patients in the home. CMS had statutory authority to create this waiver under Section 1135 of the Social Security Act, but the waiver is tied to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. The bill would extend the waiver for two years, as well as study the program, to determine the best way to give patients the flexibility to receive acute-level care in their home going forward.
Original source can be found here.
