Virtual Hospital-at-Home Program Cuts Costs but Needs Payment Reform

All-virtual, at-home acute care programs can lower costs for hospitals and payers, but broader adoption may require changes to reimbursement policies, according to a new study published in JAMA Network Open.

Hospital-at-home care delivers medical staff, equipment and treatments—such as IV infusions—directly to patients’ homes.

In the U.S., Medicare requires two in-person visits per day for reimbursement, which can be difficult to fulfill in large or high-traffic areas, according to study authors.