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Ask a Rev Cycle Expert: Payment for Hospital Care at Home?

Question:

When the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) ends, does Medicare intend to pay for acute hospital care at home or will this end?

Answer:

When the COVID-19 PHE ends, the Hospitals Without Walls (WoW) flexibilities will end. Some flexibilities will continue through the end of the year in which the pandemic ends, unless additional rulemaking is done to make flexibilities permanent. Some flexibilities are becoming permanent, such as some supervision requirements.

Although the Hospitals WoW flexibility is expected to end, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has begun an innovation center where hospitals may apply for waivers and continue to provide services in the patient’s home. For more information, please visit: https://qualitynet.cms.gov/acute-hospital-care-at-home

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