The House of Representatives has unanimously approved the Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act (H.R. 4313), a bipartisan bill that would extend “Hospital at Home” programs for five more years. The legislation was introduced by Representatives Lloyd Smucker (PA-11) and Vern Buchanan (FL-16).
“Home health care options provide patients with high-quality care at lower costs, reduce the risk of hospital-acquired infections, and increase recovery outcomes for patients,” said Rep. Smucker. “Extending this commonsense policy is a clear win for patients and taxpayers. I am proud to co-lead these efforts with Rep. Buchanan and thank my House colleagues for passing this legislation to give patients the ability to recover in the comfort of their own homes.”
The Hospital at Home model began in November 2020 when the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) created a waiver to allow hospitals more flexibility in treating certain patients at home instead of inside hospital facilities. According to the American Hospital Association, this approach reduces costs, improves patient outcomes, and enhances patient experiences.
A recent CMS report found that treatment in familiar settings helps speed up recovery times, lowers mortality rates, and decreases risks such as hospital-acquired infections and falls.
Representative Dwight Evans (D-Pa.) cosponsored H.R. 4313, while Senators Tim Scott and Reverend Raphael Warnock have introduced similar legislation in the Senate. The bill has been endorsed by the American Hospital Association.
Lloyd Smucker has represented Pennsylvania’s 11th district in Congress since 2017 after previously serving in the Pennsylvania Senate from 2009 to 2016. He was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where he currently resides.
