Restore and protect access to heart and lung rehab
Support H.R. 1406 and S. 3021 - Bipartisan legislation supporting heart and lung health
Access to cardiac and pulmonary rehab has ended for many in the U.S.
Patients share their thoughts of home-based, virtual rehabilitation
Medicare coverage for home-based, virtual cardiac and pulmonary rehab - the standard of care for many beneficiaries - ended in May 2023, when provided by hospitals. For the many who reside in “rehab deserts” - too far from the nearest rehab center, there are no options for cardiac or pulmonary rehab.
Cardiac and pulmonary rehab is a standard of care and reduces hospitalizations among those completing a program versus those not in a program.
And many studies have shown that home-based, virtual cardiac rehab is safe and effective, with effective outcomes similar to in-person programs.
Intensive cardiac rehabilitation (ICR), such as the Pritikin or Ornish programs, are also impacted by these coverage limitations.
Virtual programs provide vital access to care.
Cardiac and pulmonary rehab are supervised programs of exercise, nutrition, and clinical guidance. Decades of research support these programs as the standard of care for those with conditions or procedures like a bypass, stent, COPD, heart failure, heart/lung transplant, or valve repair.
Only about 1 in 4 start a program, with 8% completing a typical program. There are barriers that can make it challenging to attend a center-based program: distance, hospital parking, and waitlists. In addition, hundreds of facilities in the U.S. have closed, further exacerbating the problem.
Cardiologist Dr. Wade May on Virtual Cardiac Rehab/ICR
Cardiovascular Institute of the South
Virtual cardiac rehab works
Joanne M. on Virtual Cardiac Rehab
Over the past decade, virtual visits have increased overall access to care. During the public health emergency (PHE), virtual cardiac rehab has helped to reduce access barriers to care. Data has shown that these home-based, virtual programs work, with similar gains in lower risk of death and hospitalizations. Learn more about the support and data here.
Unfortunately, virtual cardiac and pulmonary programs ended on May 11, 2023, when provided by a hospital.
H.R. 1406 / S. 3021 restore and protect access to virtual care
Protecting this access will save healthcare costs through reduced hospitalizations and better heart health. Recent studies have shown 36% lower risk of death within the 4 years after cardiac rehabilitation, including virtual programs.
This problem is not going away. The use of cardiac and pulmonary rehab is still down 15-20% from pre-COVID levels. Without access to home-based programs, heart and lung disease will continue to worsen.
Patients speak out on the need for virtual cardiac rehab
David H. on Coverage for Virtual Cardiac Rehab
Roy K. on Virtual Cardiac Rehab Experiences
Jennifer B. on Virtual Intensive Cardiac Rehab
Jose J. on Virtual Cardiac Rehab (in Spanish)
Pablo P. on Coverage for Virtual Cardiac Rehab (in Spanish)
Allen S. on Virtual Intensive Cardiac Rehab
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