Hospital-at-Home: Multistakeholder Considerations for Program Dissemination and Scale

Area of Science:

• Health Policy
• Healthcare Management
• Public Health

Background:

• Hospital-at-Home (HaH) provides acute care services in a patient's residence.
• Significant expansion of HaH models occurred due to COVID-19 regulatory changes.
• The future of HaH requires navigating complex policy landscapes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline key policy considerations for the post-pandemic Hospital-at-Home landscape.
• To identify challenges and propose solutions for sustainable HaH programs.
• To incorporate diverse stakeholder perspectives into HaH policy development.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of policy points related to Hospital-at-Home.
• Consideration of multistakeholder perspectives (patient, caregiver, provider, payer, etc.).
• Identification of policy challenges and prescriptions for HaH.

Main Results:

• Key challenges include standardizing programs, addressing caregiver needs, ensuring sustainable reimbursement, and mitigating equity concerns.
• Policy prescriptions involve establishing national quality surveillance, clarifying legal frameworks for home care, and implementing value-based payment models.
• Multistakeholder input is crucial for effective HaH policy.

Conclusions:

• Successful post-pandemic HaH implementation hinges on addressing identified policy challenges.
• A coordinated approach involving national standards, clear legal guidelines, and innovative payment reforms is necessary.
• Prioritizing quality, safety, equity, and caregiver support will ensure the long-term viability of Hospital-at-Home care.