The Hospital That is in Your Home
The Hospital at Home (HAH) model provides for many older people who ordinarily make visits to the hospital. As early as 1999, researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine demonstrated that HAH was a safe, feasible, cost effective model of care for these select patients.
Between 2000 and 2002, a National Demonstration and Evaluation Study evaluated this approach to care in three Medicare managed care organizations and one Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Patients were visited by a physician or nurse daily to assess and aid in activities such as EKG, IV fluids, and home radiology, just as they would in an acute hospital setting. The HAH model met quality standards at rates similar to those of acute hospital care and provided a shorter length of stay. Although, with the recent ruling of MACRA, which provides payment options for physcians participating with ACO's in facilitiating home care, more research needs to be done. “CMS provided $9.6 million for the demonstration of the Hospital at Home Model. The John A. Hartford Foundation provided an additional $1.2 million in funding to enhance the evaluation of this effort.” says The John A. Hartford Foundation President, Terry Fulmer.
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