Palmetto State News

U.S. Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Tom Carper (D-Del.) have introduced the Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act of 2024, a piece of legislation aimed at extending the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Acute Hospital Care at Home waiver program for five years. The bill aims to continue the successful trajectory of the program, which has been shown to reduce costs, improve patient outcomes, and alleviate pressure on hospitals.

The extension would provide stability to Medicare patients across the country by allowing providers to continue delivering hospital-level care in patients' homes. Currently active in 37 states including South Carolina, the program is set to expire on December 31, 2024.

“The Acute Hospital Care at Home program has revolutionized health care for so many Americans by improving care while cutting down on the health risks associated with hospital stays,” said Senator Scott. “I’m proud of our efforts to extend this program, ease pressure on our health care system, and allow thousands of vulnerable Americans to continue receiving high quality care from the safety of their homes.”

Senator Carper added: “Since Hospital at Home was implemented just a few years ago, we have seen this program deliver positive patient outcomes and reduce costs nationwide. I recently had the opportunity to celebrate Delaware’s own ChristianaCare as they admitted their 1,000th patient through the program. Today, I’m glad to join Senator Scott in introducing legislation to extend the Hospital at Home program for five years, and ensure hospitals across the country can continue to meet seniors right where they are.”

In response to the pandemic, Senators Scott and Carper have consistently collaborated to extend the Hospital at Home Program. During the 117th Congress, they introduced and passed legislation that extended the waiver program two years beyond the duration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. This bipartisan bill also mandated that CMS establish health and safety requirements for Hospital at Home Programs and that the Department of Health and Human Services submit a report to Congress on the effectiveness of the waiver program.

In addition to Senators Scott and Carper, the bill is cosponsored by Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.).