HR-4313 : Still Just a Bill

The "Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act" (H.R. 4313) proposes the following changes to the Social Security Act regarding acute hospital care at home:

• Extension of Waiver Flexibilities: It extends the acute hospital care at home waiver flexibilities under Section 1866G(a)(1) of the Social Security Act from 2025 to 2030.
• Additional Study and Report: It mandates a subsequent study and report on acute hospital care at home waiver flexibilities, to be completed by September 30, 2028. This study will:
  • Analyze the criteria hospitals use to determine which patients are eligible for the "Acute Hospital Care at Home" initiative.
  • Compare various aspects of care between patients in traditional inpatient settings and those receiving care at home, including:
    • Quality of care and health outcomes.
    • Hospital readmission and mortality rates.
    • Length of stay and infection rates.
    • Composition of the care team.
    • Costs incurred by the hospital.
    • Quantity and intensity of services provided.
    • Socioeconomic information of patients.
  • Analyze and compare patients entering the program from the emergency room and from an existing inpatient stay.
  • Account for selection bias and other factors that may affect data reliability.
• The Secretary of Health and Human Services must submit a report on this study to the House Committee on Ways and Means and the Senate Committee on Finance by September 30, 2028.