Coverage for Virtual Cardiac Rehab Has Been Expanded

Yesterday was a historic day for the future of cardiac and pulmonary health in the United States. With the passage of H.R. 7148 as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, cardiopulmonary rehab services have overcome a major hurdle which had previously kept many patients from accessing this life-saving care.

Coverage for virtual cardiac rehab has now been extended and expanded, allowing CR, ICR, and PR services to be delivered virtually by both physician offices and hospital outpatient programs through December 31, 2027. This multi-year extension of reimbursement – which includes hospitals as well as physician-based practices – represents a major congressional shift from short-term pandemic-era waivers to sustained support for virtual care delivery.

Up until now, only 20 to 30% of eligible patients participate in cardiac rehab, often due to distance from a cardiac rehab facility, transportation issues, or lack of availability of these services in rural areas. Now, qualifying cardiac or pulmonary patients across the country can benefit from the rehabilitation services they need via live audio-video sessions, within the comfort of their homes: a clear win for patients. As research continues to demonstrate, home-based cardiac rehabilitation improves clinical outcomes and has proven to be as safe as facility-based CR and ICR.

The benefits for providers are equally compelling. Every day, care teams witness how cardiac rehabilitation changes their patients’ lives, but too often, they don’t have the capacity or reimbursable pathway  to treat  patients who can’t attend in-person programs. Barriers like those outlined above leave the majority of eligible patients untreated. Virtual, home-based programs close these gaps by extending care beyond the walls of the hospital or clinic, ensuring every patient who needs cardiac rehab can access it.

While the road towards reimbursement has been a long one, every visit to Washington D.C., every meeting with congressional leadership and staff, and every moment of advocacy effort has been worth it, because, to me, this is personal. Years ago, my own parents participated in an ICR program at Arkansas Heart and since then, I have witnessed the impact it’s had on their lives. Their shared story has sustained my commitment to expanding access to this high-value care, so we can all ensure that our loved ones can benefit from cardiac rehab when they need it most – and in a way that meets them where they are.   

To all those who mobilized over the last several years and contributed their time, voices, energy, and passion towards this monumental advocacy win – including The American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR), American College of Cardiology, American College of Lifestyle Medicine, MedAxiom, as well as Ed Wu, MD, and Dean Ornish, M.D. – I am both humbled by and grateful for your efforts.

Thank you to the bipartisan leaders who made this possible: Reps. John Joyce, Scott Peters, Brian Fitzpatrick, Jimmy Panetta, and Sens. Marsha Blackburn, and Amy Klobuchar — as well as the many co-sponsors and staff who worked on this critical legislation.

Here’s to all of the transformative care that’s ahead!