Home Hospitalization is now emerging as an essential alternative to traditional hospital care. In fact, 81% of French people would accept this type of care if it were offered to them1The Hospital of Tomorrow (2017) [in French]. https://www.fnehad.fr/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/FNEHAD_Viavoice_DEF_web.pdf.
Although Home Hospitalization provides a concrete solution to the strain on hospitals, it remains underused in care pathways that are still largely hospital-centered. Over the past several years, Home Hospitalization has continued to evolve and become more structured, particularly thanks to regulatory developments. In this article, Alcimed presents 5 key reasons to take an interest in it.
Home Hospitalization facilities provide complex and continuous medical and paramedical care directly at the patient’s home. It is a form of hospitalization that can only be carried out by organizations authorized by the Regional Health Agencies. These facilities may be attached to a hospital or operate independently, with either public or private status.
Home Hospitalization differs from other types of home care through the level of technical expertise, frequency, and duration of the procedures performed1Dgos. (2025, July 8). Home hospitalization (HAD) – Ministry of Labor, Health, Solidarity and Families [in French]. Ministry of Labor, Health, Solidarity and Families. https://sante.gouv.fr/soins-et-maladies/prises-en-charge-specialisees/had-10951/had. It makes it possible to shorten or even avoid a hospital stay.
To initiate Home Hospitalization, it must be prescribed by a hospital physician or a general practitioner. The request is then reviewed by the Home Hospitalization facility. Once the care plan has been defined, the patient’s attending physician is asked for their approval, after which the admission can be confirmed. A home hospitalization always has an end date but may be renewed if necessary.
In 2021, Home Hospitalization accounted for 1% of hospitalization expenditures and 0.5% of French Social Security expenditures, while covering 6.8 million hospitalization days for 158,000 patients2FNEHAD. (2022, November 15). Key figures – FNEHAD [in French]. https://www.fnehad.fr/chiffres-cles/.
Home Hospitalization enables patients to receive hospital-level care while remaining in a familiar environment. It was initially developed for palliative care, but has since diversified. Today, patients of all ages benefit from Home Hospitalization, particularly those with a high degree of dependency (according to the Karnofsky index).
For patients with debilitating conditions or requiring regular treatments—such as cancer, severe infections, or neurodegenerative diseases—Home Hospitalization is particularly suitable as it reduces the need for hospital stays and travel, which can be exhausting.
Home Hospitalization is also appropriate for elderly patients, who often have multiple chronic conditions and need psychosocial support. For children, it helps avoid the anxiety of hospitalization and reduces stress for both them and their families. For working adults, it allows them to continue professional activities from home if they wish.
More generally, Home Hospitalization enables patients to remain close to their loved ones in a familiar environment, enhancing quality of life. Moreover, Home Hospitalization care plans are personalized and flexible, as they can be adapted to the patient’s evolving health status.
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Compared with traditional hospitalization, Home Hospitalization is a more cost-effective alternative for the healthcare system.
For example, a medico-economic study by the HématoLim network showed a 16.5% reduction in costs when alternating between day hospital and Home Hospitalization treatments for myeloma patients3National Congress of Cancer Networks. (2013). Medico-economic evaluation through modeling of alternating hospital/home management of treatment with Bortezomib (Velcade®): ESCADHEM system of the HEMATOLIM network [in French]. https://hemato.chu-limoges.fr/hematolim/Portals/0/Reseau%20HEMATOLIM/Communications/ESCADHEM%20medico%20eco%20MT%20VF%20CNRC%2020%2011%202013.pdf, mainly due to reduced hospital transport expenses.
On average, one day of Home Hospitalization costs around €200, compared with €1,100–1,800 for a day in day hospital or inpatient care, depending on the department. The savings mainly result from the absence of real estate costs and lower overheads, with the bulk of expenses linked to home care logistics (staff time and travel).
By shortening hospital stays or avoiding them when not strictly necessary, Home Hospitalization helps reduce the strain on medicine, surgery, obstetrics departments and emergency services.
In 2023, the number of inpatient hospital beds continued to decline (-1.3% compared with 2022), at a faster pace than before the Covid-19 crisis4Drees. (2024). Studies and results [in French]. https://drees.solidarites-sante.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/2024-10/ER1315EMB.pdf. Meanwhile, Home Hospitalization capacity increased (+4.1% since 2022).
A 2024 report from the French Court of Auditors5Cour des comptes. (2024). Reception and treatment of emergencies in the hospital [in French]. https://www.ccomptes.fr/sites/default/files/2024-11/20241119-Accueil-et-traitement-des-urgences-a-l-hopital_0.pdf estimated that 70% of emergency room visits concern minor or non-urgent cases. The report recommended Home Hospitalization as a way to avoid unnecessary ER visits by elderly patients and to support their care at home.
For many types of care that can be delivered outside hospitals—such as postoperative follow-ups or certain antibiotic treatments— Home Hospitalization represents a valuable alternative that frees up hospital beds for more severe and urgent cases.
Home Hospitalization also improves geographic accessibility to care, especially for patients in rural areas far from hospitals.
It reduces waiting times, as care can be initiated in less than 24 hours for urgent cases.
General practitioners are also authorized to prescribe Home Hospitalization, but they currently account for only around 5% of prescriptions. The 2022 National Home Hospitalization Roadmap therefore encourages raising awareness among GPs to promote direct Home Hospitalization prescriptions from community care6Ministry of Solidarity and Health. (2021–2026). Roadmap 2021–2026 [in French]. https://sante.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/feuille-de-route-had-2022-05-01.pdf.
Given its advantages, Home Hospitalization is continuously evolving and becoming more structured. New regulations have also reinforced its role in healthcare pathways.
For instance, a reform adopted in 2022 and implemented in early 2025 establishes a common framework (general care) and three specialized areas: ante- and post-partum care, children under three years old, and rehabilitation. This reform recognizes Home Hospitalization as a fully-fledged healthcare activity, with clearly defined requirements and obligations. Its aim is to foster the development of alternatives to conventional hospitalization.
Other specific initiatives also support Home Hospitalization expansion. In February 2025, a decree introduced a three-year pilot program to promote injectable chemotherapy at home, providing financial support to facilities that prescribe such treatments outside the hospital.
Additionally, discussions have been underway for several years regarding a new Home Hospitalization financing model, aiming to reduce reliance on activity-based payments, which can financially destabilize some facilities. This reform would further contribute to Home Hospitalization growth in France.
Home Hospitalization is no longer just an occasional alternative to inpatient care—it is a true lever for transforming healthcare pathways, benefiting both patients and the healthcare system.
2025 marks a turning point, with regulatory reforms and stronger structural support for Home Hospitalization.
For healthcare companies, this dynamic represents a significant opportunity to consider home-based drug administration. However, challenges remain, such as limited awareness, complex coordination, and uneven availability across regions.
How can you seize these opportunities and anticipate the challenges? Our dedicated healthcare team can support you in defining the best strategy for integrating home hospitalization into your solutions while ensuring a safe, effective rollout. Don’t hesitate to contact our team.
About the author,
Medine, Consultant in Alcimed’s Healthcare team in France
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