At HOME Services Act

This bill mandates the Secretary of Health and Human Services to implement a two-year demonstration program within one year of its enactment. This program will enable hospitals to offer outpatient observation services to eligible Medicare beneficiaries directly in their homes, expanding care options beyond traditional facility settings. Participating hospitals can receive waivers and flexibilities, mirroring those granted under the existing Acute Hospital Care at Home initiative. These waivers include exemptions from certain 24-hour nursing and physical environment requirements, as well as modifications to telehealth originating site rules to include the patient's home. To qualify, hospitals must ensure the standard of care at home is equivalent to in-hospital care, meet patient safety standards, and provide data for monitoring and analysis. The legislation also requires a comprehensive study to analyze various aspects of the program, including beneficiary selection criteria, quality of care, health outcomes, and costs compared to traditional hospital care. A report detailing these findings must be made publicly available on the CMS website within one year of the program's completion, providing crucial insights into the efficacy and impact of home-based observation services.