DATELINE — DispatchHealth applauds today’s bipartisan, bicameral action to extend the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Acute Hospital Care at Home (ACHaH) waiver for five years, providing health systems nationwide with the long-term certainty needed to invest in and expand hospital-level care delivered in patients’ homes.
As hospitals navigate ongoing workforce and capacity challenges, this extension enables health systems to expand access by delivering high-acuity care as a seamless extension of their own brand of care, beyond their facilities’ walls.
“The five-year extension of the Acute Hospital Care at Home waiver is a major milestone for patients, providers, and the healthcare system. It gives health systems the certainty to invest, scale, and innovate,” said Jennifer Webster, CEO of DispatchHealth. “This model delivers hospital-level care at home while easing inpatient capacity constraints. Most importantly, it honors patient preferences to heal at home, often with better outcomes and satisfaction than in traditional settings.”
DispatchHealth offers the most comprehensive high-acuity care-at-home platform in the U.S., spanning clinical models, technology, logistics, and operational support. DispatchHealth is uniquely positioned to help health systems rapidly launch, expand, and sustain programs that redefine acute care delivery.
“This extension means more patients can receive hospital-level care at home where many recover better, feel safer, and stay connected to their families,” said Pippa Shulman, DO, MPH, Chief Medical Officer, DispatchHealth. “It reflects years of clinical evidence and real-world experience, showing that care at home is a well-established, essential part of the modern healthcare system. At a time when hospitals across the country are facing capacity constraints and workforce challenges, extending the Hospital at Home waiver gives health systems a proven, flexible tool to care for patients safely and effectively. This is a pragmatic policy decision grounded in results.”
As of September 2025, 419 hospitals across 147 health systems in 39 states have been approved to operate home hospital programs in the U.S., reflecting broad interest in program adoption by health systems nationwide. As health systems face ongoing workforce and capacity challenges, the five-year extension enables sustained investment in care models that optimize capacity, quality, patient experience and support innovation.
About DispatchHealth: Bringing the power of the hospital to the comfort of home™
DispatchHealth is a leading provider of complex care in the home for people experiencing serious health concerns. The company is in-network with most major insurance companies and works closely with at-risk providers and health systems to deliver compassionate care at home that reduces unnecessary ER visits, enables inpatient hospital-level care at home, and lowers hospital readmission rates. Since its inception in 2013, DispatchHealth has treated more than 1.2 million people in over 20 states across the U.S.—resulting in 58% emergency room avoidance, an 8.5% 30-day readmission rate, 98% patient satisfaction, and an estimated $1.5 billion in medical cost savings. For more information, visit DispatchHealth.com.
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