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News and Market Developments
Becker’s Health IT: UMass Memorial to Restart Hospital-at-Home Admissions as Shutdown Ends (2/3) - UMass Memorial Medical Center announced that it will begin accepting admissions to its hospital-at-home program after pausing new admissions during a partial government shutdown, Hospital at home Medical Director Taki Michaelidis, MD, wrote “after the last 10 years of hard operational work in Hospital at Home in the United States (and frankly decades of research in the United States and abroad) – the U.S. House of Representatives just passed a five year hospital at home and two year telehealth extension” and explained that the extension provides regulatory stability for hospital at home programs across the U.S. to continue investing and growing.
Becker’s Health IT: Shutdown Triggers New Disruption For Hospital-At-Home Programs (2/2) – When government funding lapsed at the end of January, the partial shutdown disrupted health systems’ hospital-at-home programs as Medicare waivers tied to the service temporarily lapsed. Brief gaps in the waiver authority can force health systems to pause admissions or stop services to remain in compliance with federal rules. As a result, some hospital at home providers stopped admitting Medicare patients to ensure they would not have to transfer patients back to brick-and-mortar hospitals in the event of a waiver lapse.
Becker’s Health IT: Amazon One Medical, Reperio Health Partner on At-Home Screenings (1/30) - Reperio Health and Amazon One Medical have partnered to link at-home preventive health screenings with ongoing primary care access. Individuals who complete Reperio’s at-home screening will receive direct access to a One Medical membership, creating a pathway from early detection to follow-up care, according to a Jan. 29 news release. The collaboration is aimed at employers and health plans, with companies positioning the program as a way to engage hybrid and hard-to-reach workforces.
IoT For All: Integrating Hospital-at-Home: How Medical IoT Ecosystems Bridge Clinical Gaps for HIMSS 2026
(1/29) - imedtac is showcasing its integrated hospital at home IoT ecosystem at HIMSS 2026 to address nursing shortages and fragmented care workflows. The system connects hospital-grade care to patients’ homes using the iMVS-MOB mobile telehealth platform and non-contact mmWave sensors for continuous monitoring of vital signs and falls. The platform integrates with existing hospital technology systems, ensuring real-time data flow, reducing human error, and maintaining clinical oversight.
The Hill: Americans are Living Longer: Why Caregivers are Headed for a Crisis (1/29) - By 2030, approximately 1 in 5 Americans will be over the age of 65, according to federal projections. Experts warn the United States is hugely unprepared. There is no comprehensive caregiving policy, no Medicare coverage for long-term care and not enough trained and affordable caregivers to meet the future wave. By 2030, the U.S. is expected to need millions more home care workers, even as the pool of available caregivers continues to shrink. Medicare coverage does not include most long-term caregiving needs such as in-home assistance, memory care or extended custodial care.
9 and 10 News: Program Brings Hospital-Level Care to the Home (1/28) - The article in a Northern Michigan local news outlet explains the hospital at home model. It explains that the model differs from home health and telehealth by providing full acute care and lowering costs by reducing hospital stays, overhead expenses, and exposure to hospital-acquired conditions while improving patient convenience and comfort.
American Hospital Association (AHA): Nemours Redefines Pediatric Care with At-Home Model (1/28) - In June 2025, Nemours Children’s Health launched Advanced Care at Home, the nation’s first pediatric at-home care program from a freestanding children’s hospital. Over 120 patients have participated, avoiding 27 inpatient readmissions and 91 emergency visits while spending 177 days at home instead of in the hospital. Families receive personalized care supported by advanced technology and 24/7 clinical access. The program expanded to Nemours Children’s Health Delaware by the end of 2025.
McKnights Long-Term Care News: Telehealth supporters bullish despite major 2026 concerns (1/28) - Telehealth is gaining traction in long-term care, though adoption remains uneven due to staffing shortages, poor internet access, and aging equipment. In 2025, about 15% of urban patients and fewer rural patients used telehealth, but advocates see it as a key tool to expand access, support therapy services, and provide after-hours care. Emerging technologies like AI diagnostics, remote monitoring, and virtual assistants are expected to drive a continuous care model and further integration of telehealth in nursing homes.
Becker’s Health IT: Saint Francis Launches Hospital at Home Despite Federal Uncertainty (1/26) - Tulsa, Okla.-based Saint Francis Health System has rolled out a hospital-at-home program it says will continue even if Medicare reimbursement stops. The health system launched acute hospital care at home in collaboration with local payer CommunityCare, which is jointly owned by Saint Francis and Tulsa-based Ascension St. John.
Markets Insider: Care At Home for Life Advances New Aging‑in‑Place Model (1/23) – Care At Home for Life introduced a Care At Home Guarantee that combines a lifetime income annuity with prepaid in‑home care services, offering seniors a way to remain in their homes with financial security and no ongoing premiums. The model aims to provide a sustainable alternative to traditional debt‑based products like reverse mortgages and support aging in place with professional care and guaranteed income.
Pharmacy Practice News: Vetting Nursing Contractors Is Essential (1/23) - Contracting with external nursing partners can expand home-based immunoglobulin (Ig) infusion services, especially in remote areas or outside regular hours, but requires careful vetting and clear communication. Experts emphasize setting expectations, onboarding agency nurses, and maintaining consistent reporting and patient monitoring to ensure safety and continuity of care. While external contracts help fill gaps, growing internal nursing staff remains important for building strong pharmacy–nursing collaboration and improving patient satisfaction.
US News & World Report: Why the Hospital-at-Home Waiver Matters (1/21) – This article calls for the extension of hospital at home, citing the program’s effectiveness and safety in health care cost and patient care. The article states that the Senate should prioritize extending the waiver for five years to ensure a stable coverage pathway for hospitals and allow sufficient time to perform an analysis.
Business Wire: eClinicalWorks, Sunoh.ai Enhance Home‑Based Primary Care and Operational Efficiency at Bloom Healthcare (1/21) – eClinicalWorks and Sunoh.ai are helping Bloom Healthcare, a home‑based primary care provider in Colorado and Texas, improve documentation efficiency and provider productivity. By integrating Sunoh.ai with the eClinicalTouch® mobile platform, clinicians are saving about an hour of documentation time per day, freeing providers to focus more on patient care and enabling same‑day note completion, with goals of reducing burnout and enhancing patient communication.
CBS News Baltimore: Experts Share Tips to Prevent Caregiver Burnout in Home Care (1/21) – Caregiving experts provide guidance for family members providing in-home care to avoid burnout. Recommendations include creating a structured care plan, recognizing signs of stress and fatigue, and seeking support from other family members or professional caregivers to maintain both personal well-being and quality of care. The advice is aimed at helping caregivers sustain long-term home care while protecting their own health.
St. Louis Magazine: Ranken Jordan Opens Simulated Home to Ease Hospital‑to‑Home Transition (1/21) – Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital in Missouri launched a SIM Home, an in‑hospital simulated home environment where caregivers of medically complex children practice providing routine medical care independently before discharge, helping build confidence and reduce anxiety about caring for their child at home. The overnight program lets families navigate a home‑like setting with minimal staff intervention while support remains nearby, aiming to better prepare them for real‑world caregiving
Employer Benefit News (EBN): A New Benefit from Angle Health is Bringing At-Home Infusion Care to Employees (1/21) - Angle Health, in partnership with Leap Health, now offers employees at‑home infusion care as part of employer health benefits to expand access and lower costs for common infusion therapies that would otherwise require hospital or specialty center visits. The benefit lets trained clinicians deliver infusion treatments in employees’ homes, improving convenience and potentially reducing absenteeism and disruption from travel, while maintaining quality care whether at home or in nearby clinics.
AARP: Caregiving Lessons: “Moving Mom In Wasn’t a Good Idea”
(1/20) – In a first‑person caregiving story, a daughter reflects on how bringing her mother into her home during early dementia worsened her mother’s disorientation and strained family dynamics, ultimately leading to a return to in‑home professional care and highlighting the limits of family caregiving. The article suggests exploring alternatives like involving friends, hiring home health aides, and using geriatric care managers before uprooting a loved one from their familiar environment.
Digital Health News: PGI’s Digital Doctrine Signals a Shift Toward Hospital‑at‑Home Healthcare (1/19) – The Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI) submitted a five‑year digital health roadmap to India’s Ministry of Health outlining a transition to a technology‑led system that brings hospital‑at‑home and specialist care into community settings. The plan emphasizes AI‑enabled telemedicine, integrated digital infrastructure, and training “digital clinicians” to deliver care remotely, support hub‑and‑spoke tele‑ICU and tele‑cardiology models, and extend services like chronic care management and specialist consultations to rural and underserved regions through digital tools, AR/VR training, and tele‑dependent mobile clinics.
CIDRAP: In‑Center Hemodialysis Linked to Higher COVID‑19 Infection Rates (1/16) – Patients receiving hemodialysis at outpatient centers experienced significantly higher SARS‑CoV‑2 infection rates than those treated with home dialysis, with in‑center patients averaging about 2.85 infections per 1,000 patient‑weeks compared with 1.69 for home patients, particularly during COVID‑19 surges. This suggests home dialysis may reduce exposure risk associated with frequent close contact in facilities.
Health Leaders: Nemours Moves Beyond the Hospital‑at‑Home Concept (1/13) – Nemours Children’s Health launched its Advanced Care at Home program to support pediatric patients at home with virtual care and 24/7 clinical oversight, aiming to reduce hospital stays, emergency department visits and readmissions. The model focuses on simplicity and family‑centered care by combining telehealth visits with remote monitoring and in‑person resources when needed, positioning it as a bridge between hospital care and home recovery rather than just replacing hospital rooms.
City News: Hospital at Home Program Now Treating Pre and Post Surgery Patients (1/9) - This video highlights a Hospital at Home program where a patient recovering from bowel cancer surgery receives acute care in her own home rather than in a traditional hospital setting. It shows how services such as clinical visits and support are delivered at home to support recovery and reduce the need for inpatient stays.
Modern Healthcare: Hospital‑at‑Home Program ROI Examined (1/8) - While many health systems report improvements in access, patient satisfaction, shorter lengths of stay and reduced readmissions with these models, reported ROI varies widely among organizations. The piece highlights that hospital‑at‑home may yield clinical and operational benefits but that financial outcomes depend on program scale, reimbursement structures, and implementation costs, reflecting the broader industry debate on the economic sustainability of at‑home acute care.
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