U.S. House Advances Hospital at Home Program, Urges Health Insurance Tax Credit Extension

The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed a bipartisan bill to renew the 'Hospital at Home' program for five years. Initially established by CMS waivers in 2020, this program allows hospitals to provide care to eligible patients at home, reducing costs and improving patient outcomes. Over 200 hospitals nationwide participate in the program, leveraging the benefits of home-based care such as faster recovery, lower mortality, and fewer hospital-acquired infections. Congressman Dwight Evans emphasized the need for a similar bipartisan approach to prevent a significant cost increase in health insurance that could affect 24 million Americans on December 31, 2025. This relates to the impending expiration of tax credits that currently make health insurance affordable for millions, including approximately 150,000 in Pennsylvania who might lose coverage if the credits lapse. Evans advocates for a discharge petition in the House requiring just four Republicans to join Democrats to ensure a vote on extending these tax credits. The urgency of this extension is underscored by the potential premium hikes and coverage losses impacting working-class Americans. He also addressed misunderstandings about the origin and scope of the tax credits, clarifying they were proposed before the COVID-19 pandemic and that fraud concerns appear overstated. The Hospital at Home initiative and extension of health insurance tax credits fall under the purview of the House Ways and Means Committee, on which Evans serves. These developments reflect ongoing regulatory and legislative efforts to maintain affordable and effective health care delivery and insurance coverage. With 24 million Americans depending on these tax credits, the outcome of these legislative efforts will have significant market and policy implications in the U.S. health insurance sector. Evans' office also reported substantial constituent service successes, returning or saving $4.5 million in 2024 via federal agency casework, demonstrating active engagement in social welfare and regulatory processes.