Key facts
- Hospital-at-Home programs allow Medicare patients to receive inpatient-level care at home.
- Services include IV medications, blood tests, and daily clinical evaluations.
- Patients are monitored remotely and receive in-person visits from healthcare professionals.
- Hospitals need Medicare approval to offer these services.
- Eligibility is determined case-by-case, with conditions like pneumonia and heart failure commonly treated.
The Hospital-at-Home program offers Medicare beneficiaries the option to receive inpatient-level medical care in their own homes, an alternative to traditional hospital stays. This model, significantly expanded through Medicare's Acute Hospital Care at Home initiative, allows approved hospitals to provide services outside their facilities. Patients under this program receive daily clinical evaluations, intravenous medications, blood tests, and respiratory therapy, all while being monitored remotely and receiving multiple in-person visits from nurses, paramedics, or other healthcare professionals. The goal is to provide the same level of safety and oversight as a hospital setting, but with the convenience of recovering in a familiar environment. Eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis, considering medical needs and the suitability of the home environment. Conditions commonly treated include pneumonia, heart failure, COPD, and certain infections. Patients or their families can inquire with healthcare providers or local hospitals about the availability of these services, as not all hospitals participate.