Washington, D.C. — The federal government has extended the Medicare Acute Hospital Care at Home (AHCAH) waiver program for five years through September 30, 2030, giving hospitals and patients the longest-term commitment to home-based acute care since the program launched during the COVID-19 pandemic.
President Trump signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (H.R. 7148) into law on February 4, 2026, ending a three-day partial government shutdown and locking in a provision that had passed the House unanimously in December 2025.
373 Hospitals Across 37 States Now Eligible
The AHCAH program, first established by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in November 2020, allows Medicare-certified hospitals to deliver inpatient-level care — including physician visits, IV medications, respiratory therapy, and remote patient monitoring — in a patient’s own home. As of January 2026, 373 hospitals across 140 health systems in 37 states had received CMS approval to participate.
The five-year extension replaces a pattern of short-term renewals that had created uncertainty for health systems considering investment in home-based programs. Previous extensions had lasted only months at a time, discouraging new entrants.
“My act will ensure that hundreds of hospitals, including dozens in Florida, can continue caring for patients in their own homes,” said Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL), who authored the Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act (H.R. 4313) and chairs the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee. The legislation had bipartisan cosponsors including Reps. Mike Carey (R-OH) and Dwight Evans (D-PA).
CMS Data Shows Lower Mortality, Fewer Complications
A CMS study of the initiative found that AHCAH patients generally had lower mortality rates than comparable patients treated in traditional brick-and-mortar hospital settings. Hospital-acquired condition rates were lower across all six categories evaluated compared to facility-based care. Post-discharge Medicare spending was also lower for AHCAH patients in more than half of the top 25 diagnostic groups.
Research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found a 30-day readmission rate of 7 percent for hospital-at-home patients, compared with 23 percent for those who received traditional inpatient care.
The extension also allocates $2.5 million to CMS to conduct a formal comparison study of quality and cost between hospital-at-home and traditional inpatient care. The results are expected to inform Congress on whether the program should be modified or made permanent.
Industry Responds With Expansion Plans
“For patients, this means fewer disruptive hospital stays, more healing at home, and greater access to high-quality acute care,” said Pippa Shulman, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at DispatchHealth.
The American Hospital Association reported that over 400 hospitals had used AHCAH waivers in the prior year, serving both Medicare patients and those covered by commercial plans. With the five-year extension now in place, health systems are accelerating plans to establish or scale home-based acute care programs.
The American Medical Association, which advocated for the extension, called it “a big winner for patients and doctors” that helps “boost care, cut postdischarge costs and save lives.”
Why This Matters for Home Care
The five-year AHCAH extension signals a permanent shift in how acute medical care is delivered in the United States. For the millions of Americans managing serious health conditions at home — including post-surgical recovery, chronic illness, and end-of-life care — hospital-grade equipment is no longer a luxury. It is becoming a clinical expectation.
As hospitals expand their at-home programs, patients and caregivers need beds that meet the same safety and functionality standards found in inpatient facilities. The SonderCare Aura Premium Hospital Bed ($6,999) is built to that standard: FDA-registered and certified to International Hospital Standard, it offers a 500-pound weight capacity, FallSafe ultra-low 10-inch height to reduce fall risk, Trendelenburg positioning for respiratory and circulatory emergencies, and Zero Gravity positioning for pressure relief. For families seeking a fully upholstered option that blends into a home environment, the Aura Platinum ($8,499) adds Crypton fabric panels designed for infection control and easy cleaning.
Whether participating in a hospital-at-home program or managing long-term care independently, having the right bed can make the difference between a safe recovery and a preventable complication.
Explore SonderCare’s hospital-grade home beds at sondercare.com/beds/
Last Updated – March 16, 2026
