The coming expiration of CMS’ hospital-at-home waiver is sowing confusion and uncertainty among health system executives who oversee the programs. Some leaders told Becker’s that if the CMS waiver expires Sept. 30 without an extension, they would have to end their programs and send home-based patients back to the hospital. The care model allows patients to receive hospital-level care via in-home technology and medical equipment and in-person and virtual visits with clinicians.

The House Ways and Means Committee passed a bill Sept. 17 that would extend the waiver for five years, while the Senate rejected a government funding stopgap Sept. 19 that would have prolonged it through November. The most recent CMS waiver renewal happened in March, as part of a six-month government spending packag

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