Letters and Issue Briefs

December 18, 2024 – In a letter of appreciation, the ACH Coalition and like-minded stakeholders lauded Congressional leaders for supporting the hospital at home waiver program by including a five-year extension of the budget-neutral hospital at home waiver program in Section 211 of the Continuing Resolution, Further Continuing Appropriations and Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2025. In the letter, the Coalition urged Congress to take up and pass the legislation later in the week. … The bipartisan legislation failed in the U.S. House of Representatives the following day. On Friday evening, Dec. 20, after another failed attempt, Congress passed a bill with a short-term Acute Hospital Care at Home waiver extension. The House vote was 366-34. H.R. 10545, the C.R., then passed the Senate on a vote of 85-11. | Read the Full Dec. 18 Letter

November 19, 2024 – In a post-election letter, the ACH Coalition thanked Speaker Johnson and Leaders Jeffries, Schumer, and McConnell for their continued support of the hospital at home waiver, and asked Congress to take urgent action before the end of the year to preserve long-term access to this critical care pathway. Throughout 2024, bipartisan legislation to advance a five-year extension of the waiver flexibilities has been introduced in the House of Representatives and Senate and unanimously advanced out of the House Ways and Means and House Energy and Commerce committees. Recently, a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services report to Congress on the Acute Hospital Care at Home waiver initiative affirmed the safety and quality of care being provided under hospital at home. Since Congress last took action to extend the waiver, nearly 100 additional hospitals have sought and received waivers to participate. | Read the Full Letter

September 17, 2024 – In a letter of support, the ACH Coalition thanked the House Committee on Energy and Commerce for its focus on the continuation of the hospital at home program across the nation. The Coalition strongly supports the inclusion of the five-year extension of the Acute Hospital Care at Home (AHCAH) waiver flexibilities in H.R. 7623 – the Telehealth Modernization Act of 2024, a bill that was part of the 16 bills the Committee was set to mark up on Sept. 18. Since Congress originally extended the waiver program by statute in December 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has approved an additional 83 AHCAH waivers for hospitals. According to CMS, 342 hospitals across 137 systems in 39 states are currently approved for the AHCAH waiver program. | Read the Full Letter

May 15, 2024 – The ACH Coalition thanked the leadership of the House Energy and Commerce Committee for supporting the continuation of the hospital at home waiver program, specifically the inclusion of a five-year extension of the waiver program in the amendment in the nature of a substitute (AINS) to H.R. 7623 – the Telehealth Modernization Act – which the Subcommittee on Health at the House Energy and Commerce Committee is marking up on May 16. This important provision would extend Acute Hospital Care at Home waiver flexibilities through 2029. Notably, the extension included in the AINS to H.R. 7623 will provide the stability and predictability necessary for providers and plans to scale nascent programs to sustainable levels. | Read the Full Letter

May 8, 2024 – The Preserving Telehealth, Hospital, and Ambulance Access Act (H.R. 8261), which includes the five-year extension of the hospital at home waiver program, was favorably reported out of the U.S. House Committee on Ways & Means with a unanimous vote of 41-0. The bill was introduced by Reps. David Schweikert (R-AZ) and Mike Thompson (D-CA) and will provide the stability and predictability necessary for providers and plans to scale nascent hospital at home programs to sustainable levels. It will also allow for increased provider and patient participation, enhanced data collection, the continued dissemination and scaling of best practices, and improved access to underserved populations. The ACH Coalition wrote a letter supporting the inclusion of the extension of the program in legislation the Committee marked up on May 8. | Read the Full Letter

April 9, 2024 – The ACH Coalition commended the Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health for considering the Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act discussion draft at the April 10, 2024, hearing titled “Legislative Proposals to Support Patient Access to Telehealth Services.” The legislation would extend the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Acute Hospital Care at Home waiver flexibilities through 2027. The Coalition strongly supports the multiyear extension contained in this legislation, which demonstrates an ongoing commitment to increasing access to care in the home through hospital at home programs. | Read the Full Letter

April 9, 2024 – The ACH Coalition commented on a bipartisan discussion draft of legislation introduced by Representatives Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR). The Coalition commended the lawmakers’ commitment – by drafting the Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act – to increasing access to care in the home through hospital at home programs. The Coalition supports a multiyear extension to provide the stability and predictability necessary for providers and plans to scale nascent programs to sustainable levels, while also allowing for increased provider and patient participation, enhanced data collection, and spreading of best practices to address equity and other challenges. | Read the Full Letter

March 20, 2023 – In March 2023, the ACH Coalition submitted comments on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Request for Information (RFI) on health care workforce shortages. The Coalition discussed how virtual care leads to the retention of health professionals in the workforce. The Coalition also highlighted how the Acute Hospital Care at Home waiver unlocked the potential of community paramedics to provide non-emergency care. Finally, the Coalition recommended that the Committee create new ways for highly qualified paramedics, nurses, doctors and other health care providers to practice across state lines. | Read the Full Letter

November 3, 2022 – In November 2022, the ACH Coalition submitted comments on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Request for Information (RFI) on promoting efficiency and equity within CMS programs. The Coalition discussed how hospital at home programs enhance equity and improve patient outcomes and experiences. The Coalition also strongly encouraged CMS to create a permanent pathway to coverage for the Acute Hospital Care at Home program so that Medicare beneficiaries can continue to receive the highest quality care in the most appropriate care setting. | Read the Full Letter

March 10, 2022 – In March 2022, ACH Coalition members and partners submitted a sign on letter to House Speaker Pelosi, Leader McCarthy, Leader Schumer, and Leader McConnell urging the passage of the Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act, introduced in the Senate and the House. This bipartisan legislation would extend the current acute hospital care at home waiver flexibilities for two years from the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. The letter features more than 110 organizations that support the bill. | Read the Full Letter

November 18, 2021 – In October 2021, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMS Innovation Center) published their strategy refresh white paper, “Driving Health System Transformation – A Strategy for the CMS Innovation Center’s Second Decade.” In advance of the CMS Innovation Center’s first listening session, the ACH Coalition provided input on the importance of extending advanced care at home flexibilities in improving overall patient care as well as achieving shared goals of access and equity. The Coalition looks forward to the ongoing partnership to advance hospital at home care delivery models. | Read the Full Letter

October 28, 2021 – ACH Coalition members and partners submitted a sign-on letter to House Speaker Pelosi, Leader McCarthy, Leader Schumer, and Leader McConnell expressing strong support for the Acute Hospital Care at Home waiver program, implemented by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, to allow Medicare beneficiaries the option to receive acute-level health care services in their home environment past the COVID-19 public health emergency. | Read the Full Letter