Extending Acute Hospital Care at Home Waiver Flexibilities
Section 6210 · Sec. 6210 ·
What this chapter is about
This part keeps a program going in which hospital-level care is given at home. The end date moves to September 30, 2030. It orders a second study, due September 30, 2029, and a report to two committees in Congress. It puts $2,500,000 behind the work.
The document says “is amended”Who acts: CongressHow: statuteSec. 6210 in the PDF
What the document says
“Section 1866G(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395cc-7(a)(1)) is amended by striking ``January 30, 2026'' and inserting ``September 30, 2030''.”
Subsection (a) of section 6210 amends section 1866G(a)(1) of the Social Security Act, striking January 30, 2026 and inserting September 30, 2030.
What the document actually says
“Section 1866G(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395cc-7(a)(1)) is amended by striking ``January 30, 2026'' and inserting ``September 30, 2030''.”
That sentence, in plain words
In one part of the law, cross out January 30, 2026. Write in September 30, 2030.
What this is about
The program lets a hospital treat some patients in their own homes. It was set to end in early 2026. This gives it four more years.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “can”Who acts: Secretary of Health and Human ServicesHow: statuteSec. 6210 in the PDF
What the document says
“``The Secretary may require that such data and information be submitted through a hospital's cost report, through such survey instruments as the Secretary may develop, through medical record information, or through such other means as the Secretary determines appropriate.'';”
Section 6210 adds a flush sentence to section 1866G(a)(3)(E) of the Social Security Act, letting the Secretary require the data and information through a hospital's cost report, through survey instruments the Secretary develops, through medical record information, or through other means the Secretary finds appropriate. It also broadens a cross reference so it covers both studies.
What the document actually says
“``The Secretary may require that such data and information be submitted through a hospital's cost report, through such survey instruments as the Secretary may develop, through medical record information, or through such other means as the Secretary determines appropriate.'';”
That sentence, in plain words
The health chief may ask for the data in several ways. A cost report is one. A survey is one. Medical records are one.
What this is about
A study needs data from hospitals. This says how the agency may collect it. It leaves room for other ways too.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “shall”Who acts: Secretary of Health and Human ServicesHow: statuteSec. 6210 in the PDF
What the document says
“``(1) In general.--Not later than September 30, 2029, the Secretary shall conduct a study to--
``(A) analyze, to the extent practicable, the criteria established by hospitals under the Acute Hospital Care at Home initiative to determine which individuals may be furnished services under such initiative; and”
Section 6210 adds a new subsection (c) to section 1866G of the Social Security Act. By September 30, 2029 the Secretary must study the criteria hospitals use to pick who gets care at home, and compare care in the initiative with care in the inpatient setting on quality, readmission and mortality rates, length of stay, infection rates, care team composition, transfers, discharges, patient and caregiver experience, clinical conditions, costs, the mix and intensity of services, socioeconomic information, and how patients who entered from an emergency department fared against those who entered from an existing inpatient stay.
What the document actually says
“``(1) In general.--Not later than September 30, 2029, the Secretary shall conduct a study to--
``(A) analyze, to the extent practicable, the criteria established by hospitals under the Acute Hospital Care at Home initiative to determine which individuals may be furnished services under such initiative; and”
That sentence, in plain words
By September 30, 2029 the health chief must run a study. One thing it must look at is how hospitals pick which patients get care at home.
What this is about
The first study is now called the initial one. This is a second, later study. It compares care at home with care in the hospital.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “shall”Who acts: Secretary of Health and Human ServicesHow: statuteSec. 6210 in the PDF
What the document says
“``(2) Selection bias.--In conducting the study under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, analyze and compare individuals who participate and do not participate in the initiative controlling for selection bias or other factors that may impact the reliability of data.”
Paragraph (2) of the new subsection requires the Secretary, so far as practicable, to compare people who take part in the initiative with people who do not, controlling for selection bias or other factors that may affect how reliable the data is.
What the document actually says
“``(2) Selection bias.--In conducting the study under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, analyze and compare individuals who participate and do not participate in the initiative controlling for selection bias or other factors that may impact the reliability of data.”
That sentence, in plain words
The study must compare people in the program with people out of it. It must allow for the ways the two groups differ to start with.
What this is about
Hospitals choose which patients get care at home. Those patients may be less sick to begin with. If so, the program would look better than it is.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “shall”Who acts: Secretary of Health and Human ServicesHow: statuteSec. 6210 in the PDF
What the document says
“``(A) submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a report on the study conducted under paragraph (1); and”
Paragraph (3) of the new subsection requires the Secretary, by September 30, 2029, to submit a report on the study to the House Committee on Ways and Means and the Senate Committee on Finance, and to make the report publicly available on a website of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
What the document actually says
“``(A) submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a report on the study conducted under paragraph (1); and”
That sentence, in plain words
The health chief must send a report on the study to two groups in Congress.
What this is about
The report is also put on a public website. So anyone can read what the study found.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “shall”Who acts: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid ServicesHow: statuteSec. 6210 in the PDF
What the document says
“there is appropriated to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Program Management Account for fiscal year 2026, out of any amounts in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $2,500,000, to remain available until expended, for purposes of carrying out this section.''; and”
Paragraph (4) of the new subsection appropriates $2,500,000 to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Program Management Account for fiscal year 2026, in addition to amounts otherwise available, to remain available until expended, to carry out the section.
What the document actually says
“there is appropriated to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Program Management Account for fiscal year 2026, out of any amounts in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $2,500,000, to remain available until expended, for purposes of carrying out this section.''; and”
That sentence, in plain words
The sum of $2,500,000 goes to one account for 2026. It may be held until it is spent. It pays for the work of this part.
What this is about
A study of this size costs money. This names the account it comes from. Funds that stay available do not lapse at year end.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The main things the section does: move the end date, allow the Secretary to require data through several channels, add a new subsection (c) requiring a second study and setting what it must compare, require control for selection bias, require a report to two committees and a public posting, and appropriate funding.
The comparison items in the new study clause by clause, and the mechanical amendments redesignating subsections and changing a heading.
The section amends section 1866G of the Social Security Act, which is not indexed here, so what the waiver otherwise permits is not recorded on this site.
