Payment Reforms and Digital Technologies to Drive Future of Hospital at Home Care Models

Increasing number of diverse acute conditions to be covered under Hospital at Home Care Model

The hospital at home (HaH) care model provides hospital-grade care for acute patients with conditions ranging from asthma and pneumonia to congestive heart failure in a home setting. Stable post-op and ICU patients also can use HaH care. The US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) states that under this model, the patient home is considered part of the hospital during the tenure of care.

Hospitals can provide an array of services in the home setting, including diagnostics such as electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, and X-rays; treatments such as oxygen therapy, intravenous fluids, antibiotics, and other medicines; and pharmacy and skilled nursing services.

The United States is behind some European countries in implementations; the study considers the intricacies of the US market as a new growth location. In November 2020, the CMS selected 6 US hospitals to be early adopters for HaH programs: Unity Point Health, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Huntsman Cancer Institute, Mount Sinai, Presbyterian Healthcare Services, and Massachusetts General Hospital.