At HOME Services Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8923
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-20: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-22T02:23:26Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 8923: At Home Observation and Medical Evaluation Services Act of 2026
Purpose of the Legislation
This bill aims to create a temporary test program that lets certain hospitals offer outpatient observation services—short-term monitoring and care for patients who are not admitted as inpatients—to Medicare beneficiaries in their own homes instead of in a hospital setting.
Key Provisions Outlined
- The Secretary of Health and Human Services must start a 2-year demonstration program no later than one year after the bill becomes law.
- Hospitals that qualify can request exemptions from specific rules, similar to those used in an existing hospital-at-home effort during the COVID-19 emergency period.
- These exemptions include:
- Relief from requirements for 24-hour on-site nursing and immediate nurse availability.
- Relaxation of certain physical environment and safety code standards.
- Allowance for telehealth services to originate from a patient's home.
- To join, hospitals must agree to:
- Deliver the same quality of care at home as in the hospital.
- Follow all required patient safety standards.
- Share data with the Secretary on care quality, costs, and outcomes.
- Meet any other conditions set by the Secretary.
- The Secretary can end a hospital's participation if it fails to meet the standards.
- After the program ends, the Secretary must study and report on topics such as which patients are selected, care quality compared to hospital settings, costs, types of services provided, and participant demographics including race, income, and dual eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid.
- The program can be run through direct instructions rather than new formal rules.
- Collected information should be shared publicly on Medicare.gov where possible.
Significant Changes to Existing Law Introduced
The bill adds a new section (1866H) to Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, which governs Medicare. This creates the first dedicated framework for home-based outpatient observation services under Medicare, including targeted exemptions from existing hospital regulations that previously applied only during emergencies.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services would handle setup, oversight, data collection, and evaluation of the test program, potentially increasing administrative workload for monitoring and reporting.
- On citizens: Medicare beneficiaries could receive observation care in familiar home environments, which might reduce hospital stays and related disruptions, though access would depend on hospital participation and eligibility criteria.
- On international relations: No direct effects are addressed in the bill.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Hospitals seeking to participate and their partner care providers.
- Medicare beneficiaries who may receive home-based observation services.
- The Secretary of Health and Human Services and staff at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services responsible for implementation and study.
- Other entities involved in data analysis or care delivery under the program.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
The bill relies on existing authority to grant regulatory exemptions for a limited time, raising no new constitutional questions but testing the balance between patient safety rules and flexible care delivery. As a demonstration program, it emphasizes data gathering to inform possible future permanent changes without immediate broad legal shifts.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-20: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-05-20: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-05-20: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-20: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- At Home Observation and Medical Evaluation Services Act of 2026 — issued 2026-05-20 — PDF (7 pages)