Harry Gordon, 70, seated, receives intravenous antibiotics last spring at his southern New Jersey home under the Medicare Home Treatment program, which expired during the federal government shutdown. He faces another break in January if budget negotiations break down again. (Photo courtesy of Hackensack Meridian Health)
A popular program that allows Medicare patients to receive hospital care at home would be extended until 2030 under a bill passed in the U.S. House of Representatives and awaiting consideration by the Senate.
There was a bill passed by the House December 1 and referred to a Senate committee the next day. The federal government shutdown in October forced a pause on the Medicare program, and it faces another pause next month if budget negotiations break down again.
As of last fall, 366 hospitals across the country, serving 31,000 patients, participated in the “hospital at home” program. federal report. The program, officially called Acute hospital care at homeenables patients who would otherwise be hospitalized to receive care at home, combined with nurse visits, monitoring equipment and remote doctor visits.
“The hospital-at-home model gives hospitals the flexibility to treat some patients in the comfort of their own home rather than in a hospital setting,” said Pennsylvania Republican Lloyd Smucker, speaking on the House floor during debate on the bill on December 1.
“Many hospitals in my district have used the program with great success,” he said. “One hospital system admitted more than 800 patients, freeing up more than 1,500 hospital beds and saving approximately $1.1 million.”
Before the bill enters into force, it must be passed by the Senate and signed by President Donald Trump. Another popular Medicare program that offers telehealth visits was also paused during the shutdown and will remain subject to a pause if the short-term funding law passed in November ends on Jan. 30 without a modern budget deal.
Stateline reporter Tim Henderson can be reached at: thenderson@stateline.org.
This story was originally produced by state linewhich is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network that includes the Ohio Capital Journal and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.
