Hospital-at-home, telehealth extension advances in Congress

Historical policy update (November 1, 2026): This September 2024 report concerns legislation under consideration at that time, not the current status of these Medicare programs. According to CMS Acute Hospital Care at Home guidance, the initiative has been extended through September 30, 2030, under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, subject to its individual-waiver requirements. Separately, HHS states that many Medicare telehealth flexibilities continue through December 31, 2027. The bill status and expiration projections below reflect the original 2024 reporting.

A U.S. House committee unanimously passed a bill Sept. 18 that would extend the hospital-at-home program and telehealth flexibilities.

The Telehealth Modernization Act of 2024 moved out of the Committee on Energy and Commerce and will now go before the full House. The legislation, which would be funded by pharmacy benefit manager reform, would continue the CMS hospital-at-home waiver for five years and ease telehealth rules on Medicare recipients for two years.

“Seniors, individuals with mobility issues, and those living in rural areas rely on telehealth to bring qualified healthcare professionals right to their home,” said bill sponsor Rep. Earl “Buddy” Carter, R-Ga., in a Sept. 18 statement. “I urge a swift House floor vote on this bill so that we can get Medicare beneficiaries the life-saving health care they need.”

At the time of this September 2024 report, the COVID-era flexibilities were scheduled to expire at the end of 2024 unless Congress enacted an extension. CMS has approved 345 hospitals across 137 health systems to provide acute hospital care at home since the waiver started in 2020.