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Congress·In Committee·H.R. 6894

Congress targets faster Medicare access to cardiac and pulmonary rehab by letting more clinicians prescribe it

Increasing Access to Quality Cardiac Rehabilitation Care Act of 2025

3 months ago·View on Congress.gov
Part of: Bipartisan Push to Permanently Expand At-Home Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab
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Stalled

No legislative action in over 90 days.

Legislative Progress

House
Senate
President
Law

Key Points

  • Allows Medicare-covered heart rehab and lung rehab programs to use prescriptions from more types of clinicians, not just doctors.
  • Adds physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists as allowed prescribers for these rehab programs.
  • Updates the setting language so services aren’t tied as tightly to a “physician’s office,” which could make scheduling easier.
  • Could help patients start rehab sooner after a heart or lung event by reducing delays in getting the required prescription.
  • Would take effect for services provided starting 6 months after the bill becomes law.
HealthcareMedicare Medicaid

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

How this policy affects specific groups of people

Positive Impacts(2)
Medicare
Helps
Chronic Illness
Helps

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Dec 18, 2025House

Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.

Dec 18, 2025

Introduced in House

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

6 months after the bill is enacted

Medicare rules expand to allow physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists to prescribe cardiac rehab exercise plans.

Many patients may be able to start rehab sooner because they won’t always have to wait for a physician appointment just to get the required prescription.

6 months after the bill is enacted

Medicare rules expand to allow physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists to prescribe pulmonary rehab exercise plans.

Pulmonary rehab enrollment and follow-ups may be easier to schedule, especially in clinics where these clinicians provide most routine care.

6 months after the bill is enacted

Cardiac rehab can be furnished in a broader “office setting,” not limited to a physician’s office.

Some outpatient practices may be able to offer rehab in more types of clinic spaces, which could increase local availability and reduce travel burdens.

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Increasing Access to Quality Cardiac Rehabilitation Care Act of 2025

Bill NumberHR 6894
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(1)
R: 1

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.