A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — 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.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "At HOME Services Act," proposes to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act. It aims to establish a 2-year demonstration program that allows hospitals to provide outpatient observation services to eligible Medicare beneficiaries in their own homes. The Secretary would implement this program within one year of enactment. Participating hospitals would receive certain waivers and flexibilities regarding nursing services, physical environment requirements, and telehealth rules. The program includes requirements for hospitals to maintain specific standards of care and patient safety. Finally, the Secretary is tasked with conducting a study to analyze care quality, costs, and patient demographics.
Yes· 3 of 10
- Scored +5
Would people over 65 be better off under this?
The bill provides Medicare beneficiaries, many of whom are seniors, the option to receive observation services in their own homes.
- Scored +5
Would retired people be better off under this?
The bill offers Medicare-eligible retirees the flexibility to receive hospital observation services in their own homes.
- Scored +5
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
The bill enables outpatient observation services to be provided in a beneficiary's home via telehealth and waivers.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Outpatient Observation Services at Home: Eligible Medicare beneficiaries can receive outpatient observation services in the comfort of their own homes rather than in a hospital setting (Section 2(a)).
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Telehealth Flexibility: The bill allows for the use of the beneficiary's home or temporary residence as an originating site for telehealth services (Section 2(b)(2)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Potential Risks in Care Quality: While the bill mandates specific safety standards, the Secretary must still study and compare the quality of care, including health outcomes, hospital readmission rates, mortality rates, and infection rates, between the home program and the hospital setting (Section 2(c)(2) and Section 2(e)(1)(B)(i)).
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Inconsistency in Service Intensity: The study is required to analyze the difference in the quantity, mix, and intensity of services, such as in-person visits versus virtual contacts, between the home program and the hospital setting (Section 2(e)(1)(B)(iv)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would retired people be better off under this? — The bill offers Medicare-eligible retirees the flexibility to receive hospital observation services in their own homes. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill provides Medicare beneficiaries, many of whom are seniors, the option to receive observation services in their own homes. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill requires a study to analyze the socioeconomic information of beneficiaries, including those who are dually eligible for Medicaid. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — The bill mandates a study that includes racial and ethnic data to monitor the program's impact. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — The bill mandates a study that includes racial and ethnic data to monitor the program's impact. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — The bill mandates a study that includes racial and ethnic data to monitor the program's impact. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill mandates a study that includes racial and ethnic data to monitor the program's impact. Would white Americans be better off under this? — The bill mandates a study that includes racial and ethnic data to monitor the program's impact.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill enables outpatient observation services to be provided in a beneficiary's home via telehealth and waivers. Does this put more money into Medicare, the health coverage for people over 65? — The bill establishes a new demonstration program specifically for Medicare beneficiaries to receive care at home.
- 5/20/2026
- 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.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Vern BuchananRepublican · Florida