Sustainable Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Services in the Home Act
Bipartisan Bill Aims to Make At-Home Heart and Lung Rehab Permanent for Medicare Patients
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill would let Medicare patients do their heart and lung rehab exercises at home using video calls instead of traveling to a hospital or clinic. It aims to make permanent the flexible rules that were first put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Under this plan, doctors and specialists could supervise rehab sessions virtually through a computer or tablet. This means patients wouldn't need a medical professional physically in the room with them to get credit for a supervised session.
- The policy is designed to help people who live in rural areas or have trouble with transportation. By removing geographic restrictions, it ensures that Medicare will pay for these services even if the patient is in their own living room rather than a doctor's office.
- The Department of Health and Human Services would be required to set official safety and quality standards. These rules would treat a patient's home like a hospital outpatient department for the duration of the rehab session to ensure the care meets high standards.
- By making these options permanent, the bill hopes to increase the number of people who finish their full rehab programs. Completing these programs is known to help prevent future heart attacks and improve the quality of life for people with chronic lung issues.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Programs
This bill would permanently allow Medicare to cover cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation services delivered in patients' homes via telehealth. During COVID-19, temporary waivers let people do heart and lung rehab at home with video supervision, but those rules were set to expire. Making this permanent means Medicare beneficiaries — especially those with heart disease, heart failure, or chronic lung conditions — could complete their rehab programs without traveling to a hospital or clinic. Studies show that only about 25% of eligible patients complete traditional in-person cardiac rehab, often due to transportation barriers, so this could meaningfully improve completion rates.
Disabilities
Milestones
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.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
3 articles
Bill introduced looks to allow access to heart rehab services in homes
Rep. John Joyce reintroduced the Sustainable Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Services in the Home Act to permanently give Medicare beneficiaries access to heart rehab services in their own home. Joyce notes that heart disease is the leading cause of death and patients may recover better at home.
Medicare's telehealth benefits are ending soon. Here's what that means for patients
Medicare telehealth services were set to expire, but a short-term extension keeps flexibilities through March 31. The report highlights the uncertainty for patients who rely on virtual visits, including those needing specialized rehabilitation services that were expanded during the pandemic.
Expanded telehealth coverage could soon expire for Medicare patients
Lawmakers and advocates are calling for action as expanded telehealth coverage for Medicare patients is set to expire at the end of the month. For many elderly patients, losing virtual access creates transportation and mobility barriers that could result in them going without necessary care.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Sustainable Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Services in the Home Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
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