Researchers report positive results from hospital-at-home program

The more than 11,000 patients who received care as part of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ hospital-at-home program had a low death rate and few patients needed to return to the hospital to complete their care. Published in JAMA Health Forum, the study showed results from the first 16 months of the Acute Hospital Care at Home initiative, which began in November 2021. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 extended the CMS initiative through December 2024. The agency will conduct a comprehensive study of the program by Sept. 30, 2024. The authors note the forthcoming study, data review and additional monitoring will be “important for identifying best practices that support safe and effective inpatient-level care delivered” at home. (JAMA Network Research letter, 11/3/23)