Hospital at Home: Policy Barriers & BrightStar Care
BrightStar Care’s shelly Sun Berkowitz sounds teh alarm: Short-term funding is crippling the growth of hospital-at-home programs. The current CMS waiver for acute in-home care expires in late 2025, creating investment uncertainty and hindering expansion of this innovative model. Berkowitz, founder of BrightStar Care, a leading provider of home healthcare, highlights the remarkable clinical outcomes and cost savings spurred by hospital-at-home initiatives. She urges long-term policy changes. Without sustained commitment, these programs, which offer patient-centered care, risk stalling despite their game-changing potential. learn how funding uncertainty impacts the availability of in-home hospital services. For more details on health policy developments, consult with News Directory 3 for updates influencing home healthcare. Discover what’s next in the push for permanent hospital-at-home funding.
Funding Waivers Hinder Hospital-at-Home Growth, Expert Says
Short-term funding waivers are impeding the expansion of hospital-at-home programs, according to Shelly Sun Berkowitz, founder of BrightStar Care. She argues that the current reimbursement structure creates uncertainty, making it tough for providers to invest in and expand these services.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) introduced the Acute Hospital Care At Home program in 2020 to bolster hospital capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program, which allows reimbursement for hospital-level care at home, has been extended to Sept. 30, 2025.
BrightStar Care, based in the Chicago area, offers various home care services and has over 400 franchise locations nationwide. The company has also collaborated with DispatchHealth, formerly Medically home, to provide in-home clinician and transport services.
Sun Berkowitz believes that the hospital-at-home model is a “game changer” but its progress is hampered by the lack of long-term funding commitments.
“The frustrating truth is, this incredible vision is constantly hitting a roadblock: long-term funding,” sun Berkowitz wrote. “We’re seeing amazing clinical outcomes, happier patients, and real cost savings from hospital-at-home programs… Yet, our federal policies continue to rely on short-term waivers, creating a cliff-edge every few months.”
She emphasized the difficulty in committing resources to hospital-at-home initiatives without knowing the future policy landscape. Sun Berkowitz urges policymakers and health care stakeholders to advocate for long-term policy certainty to allow hospital-at-home programs to thrive and transform U.S. health care.
What’s next
Advocates hope policymakers will consider long-term funding solutions to support the continued growth and success of hospital-at-home programs beyond the current waiver expiration date.