S-2237 : Still Just a Bill

The Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act, also known as S. 2237, aims to expand and study the Acute Hospital Care at Home program. Key provisions include:

• Extension of Waiver Flexibilities: Extends the acute hospital care at home waiver flexibilities under Section 1866G(a)(1) of the Social Security Act from 2025 to 2030, allowing hospitals greater flexibility in providing care in patients' homes.
• Additional Study and Report: Mandates a subsequent study by September 30, 2028, to analyze various aspects of the Acute Hospital Care at Home initiative, including:
  • Criteria for patient selection into the program.
  • Comparison of care quality, health outcomes, readmission rates, mortality rates, length of stay, and infection rates between patients receiving care at home and those in traditional inpatient settings.
  • Analysis of clinical conditions treated and diagnosis-related groups.
  • Cost analysis for care in both settings.
  • Comparison of service intensity and family involvement.
  • Examination of socioeconomic factors of patients.
  • Analysis of patients entering the program from the emergency department versus existing hospital stays.
• Selection Bias Consideration: Requires the Secretary to account for selection bias in the study to ensure data reliability.
• Report Submission: Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit a report on the study's findings to the House Committee on Ways and Means and the Senate Committee on Finance by September 30, 2028.

In essence, the bill seeks to prolong the availability of at-home hospital care and to gain deeper insights into its effectiveness, costs, and impact on patient outcomes.