Medicare Hospital-at-Home Extension Finds Support Amid Scrutiny

Congress and the medical community are working to extend a pandemic-era program that allows hospitals to bill Medicare for acute inpatient care provided at home, even though it’s unclear if it actually saves money and provides equivalent care.

The Acute Hospital Care at Home program waiver, launched in November 2020, is set to expire Dec. 31 unless Congress extends it for five years after already extending it in 2022. Varied health-care interests, think tanks and patient groups support the program that’s designed for beneficiaries sick enough to be hospitalized, but stable enough to receive intensive care at home.

Lawmakers ...