Three health systems have discontinued or announced plans to end hospital-at-home programs in 2026, even as the federal government has extended the Medicare initiative supporting the delivery of acute hospital care in patients’ homes.
Congress extended the Acute Hospital Care at Home initiative through Sept. 30, 2030, allowing eligible hospitals to continue providing inpatient-level care at home under federal waivers.
Here are three health systems that have ended or announced plans to discontinue hospital-at-home programs in 2026, as reported by Becker’s:
1. Cone Health (Greensboro, N.C.)
In an Oct. 14 statement shared with Becker’s, Cone Health said it is ending its Hospital at Home program. The health system cited industry pressures including “evolving reimbursement models, operational complexity and long-term sustainability.”
The program launched in April 2025 and reported no patient deaths or healthcare-acquired infections during its first year. The system had limited enrollment to six patients at a time and previously planned to expand the program once additional payers covered the model.
Cone Health said it is developing a transition plan to wind down the program during the fourth quarter of 2026 while supporting current patients, redeploying employees and maintaining continuity of care.
2. Health First (Rockledge, Fla.)
Health First announced Sept. 16 that it would end its hospital-at-home program as part of broader service and workforce reductions.
The four-hospital system also announced plans to eliminate 214 positions, representing approximately 2% of its workforce, and close the Viera, Fla., location of its Integrated Care Program. Health First Medical Group is also ending its standalone comprehensive health assessment program. No hospitals or emergency departments are closing.
The workforce reductions primarily affect administrative, management and clerical support positions, although some clinical positions are also affected by changes to specific programs and services.
Health First said the decisions followed a review of how it could best continue serving its communities. The system said affected patients would be contacted directly about next steps.
3. Covenant Health (Knoxville, Tenn.)
Covenant Health discontinued its Advanced Care at Home program in April 2026, according to information published on the health system’s website.
The program launched at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center in March 2023 and later expanded to Parkwest Medical Center.
The program combined in-home clinical services, virtual care and remote patient monitoring to provide hospital-level treatment.
Patients could receive services including medication management, laboratory testing, IV treatments, rehabilitation therapies and diagnostic imaging at home.
Covenant Health’s website confirms the April discontinuation but does not specify why the program ended.
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