Earlier this month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the extension of the Acute Hospital Care at Home (AHCAH) waiver through September 30, 2025, offering health systems continued flexibility to deliver acute-level care beyond the four walls of the hospital. This policy decision provides much-needed regulatory certainty—but more importantly, it renews the industry’s mandate to define what comes next.
Hospital-at-home (H@H) is no longer an emergency workaround. It has proven its potential to enhance outcomes, reduce costs, and reimagine the patient experience. But to ensure its long-term viability, we must move beyond pilot programs and short-term extensions. This moment requires evidence-based infrastructure, cross-sector collaboration, and a shared commitment to making care more connected, patient-centered, and sustainable.
Scaling with purpose: An ecosystem-wide approach
At the Digital Medicine Society (DiMe), we believe H@H is more than a promising model—it’s a critical pillar of the future of care. Through the Connected Health Collaborative Community (CHcc), co-hosted by the DiMe and Consumer Technology Association (CTA) with UMass Chan Medical School’s Program in Digital Medicine as the founding Impact Sponsor, we are convening a diverse coalition of healthcare leaders, payors, innovators, and patient advocates to advance the H@H model from an emerging concept to an enduring standard. CHcc’s active and inaugural project, “Advancing a Sustainable Hospital-at-Home Ecosystem at Scale,” is a key step in this effort, ensuring that this model is built for long-term success.
As part of this project, our current work is focused on developing a comprehensive guide that will outline the essential components of H@H care. These resources will guide patients and caregivers, health systems and providers, payors and health plans, technology and device developers, and regulators and policymakers through the critical decision points for safely delivering care outside of traditional settings. It will also address business considerations such as reimbursement models and sustainability strategies.
Drawing on insights from the AHCAH program, this resource will identify key gaps and opportunities, providing a shared foundation for advancing H@H models that are safe, scalable, and centered on patient needs.
Our “north star: is to establish H@H as a sustainable, evidence-based model that improves outcomes and expands access to care beyond the walls of traditional care settings.
To achieve this, the project team is focused on:
- Equipping stakeholders with the knowledge and tools needed to implement and support H@H programs
- Defining the technology, staffing, and infrastructure required to deliver safe, effective care in the home
- Addressing the operational and regulatory challenges that surfaced through AHCAH and other H@H initiatives
- Providing a data-informed foundation to support future policy decisions and reimbursement pathways
By bringing together real-world experiences and shared expertise, we aim to create a playbook that reflects not just what’s possible but what’s practical, proven, and ready to scale. Stay tuned for updates on the public launch of these new resources by signing up for our newsletter.Â
What’s next: From policy window to lasting change
With the waiver’s expiration now set for later this year, the healthcare community has a clear, time-bound opportunity to chart a sustainable path forward. The urgency is real—but so is the momentum.
Over the coming months, we will publish our H@H open-access resources to equip stakeholders with the tools, insights, and best practices needed to drive long-term adoption. By gathering real-world experiences and engaging with key partners, we aim to codify lessons learned, address challenges that surfaced through AHCAH, and provide a roadmap for scaling hospital-at-home successfully.Â
This is more than a policy conversation—it’s a movement to redesign how, where, and for whom care is delivered. We invite healthcare leaders, innovators, and advocates to join us in building the future of connected health through shared expertise, collaboration, and action. Together, we can ensure that this model is not a temporary alternative but a trusted, enduring part of modern healthcare.
Don’t miss your next chance to shape the future of connected health
H@H is one piece of a broader movement to bring high-quality, connected care to patients—wherever they need it. A recent report by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and CTA found that 89% of Americans aged 50 and older prioritize aging safely and independently at home. However, challenges like affordability, safety, and access to healthcare must be addressed.
To address this, CHcc is building a smarter, connected ecosystem to help older adults age in their place of choice safely and independently. Secure your seat at the table with thought leaders driving the future of connected health—sign up today!
