Hospital-at-Home Programs: Global Successes and Key Insights

HIT Consultant

Hospital-at-Home (HaH) programs, which provide acute care at home instead of in a hospital, have become a vital solution in easing the burden on healthcare systems, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched a temporary waiver allowing hospitals to reimburse for at-home care, which has expanded to over 300 hospitals. However, with the waiver set to expire in 2024, the future of HaH in the U.S. is uncertain. Globally, countries like Australia, the U.K., Spain, and Canada have successfully implemented HaH programs, demonstrating benefits such as reduced hospital readmissions, improved patient outcomes, and lower costs. Key elements for success include patient engagement, multidisciplinary care teams, and investment in digital health technologies. As the U.S. faces the potential end of its waiver program, it can draw valuable lessons from these global successes to create a sustainable HaH model moving forward.

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