Dr. Joyce Reintroduces Legislation to Help Cardiac Patients Heal at Home

Washington, D.C. – Today, Reps. John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13), Scott Peters (CA-50), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), and Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) reintroduced the Sustainable Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Services in the Home Act. This legislation would permanently give Medicare beneficiaries access to in-home cardiopulmonary rehabilitation services. 

“As a doctor, I understand that many patients recover and rehabilitate best from the safety of their own homes,”  said Rep. John Joyce, M.D. “By permanently expanding access to in-home cardiopulmonary care for Medicare beneficiaries, this legislation will improve outcomes and allow patients to receive the highest quality of care from the comfort of their homes.”

“The Sustainable Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Services in the Home Act will help seniors recover from major cardiac events at home and expand access to telehealth for those who might otherwise struggle to reach a doctor,”  said Rep. Scott Peters. “We know patients recover better when treated in familiar settings, like at home. We must continue working on solutions so Americans aren’t obligated to forego medical care or break the bank for burdensome hospital stays.”

"Medicare patients deserve the ability to access vital cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation services from the comfort and safety of their own homes. This not only enhances the likelihood of successful recovery but also contributes to an increase in life expectancy,"  said Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick. "Our bipartisan Sustainable Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Services in the Home Act delivers a common-sense, forward-looking solution for our seniors. By lowering hospital readmission rates for cardiac patients and expanding access to rehabilitation programs, this legislation takes a vital step toward improving health outcomes. It's time to modernize Medicare guidelines and provide a long-overdue, sustainable pathway for supervised in-home care to benefit Americans nationwide.”

“As we continue to address the challenges of heart disease in our communities, ensuring access to critical rehabilitation services is essential,”  said Rep. Jimmy Panetta. “This bipartisan legislation builds on the innovative care models developed during the pandemic to ensure that patients can safely recover and rehabilitate from home.  By expanding access to these proven, life-saving programs, we can reduce the burden on our healthcare system and prioritize the health and well-being of seniors.”

Background:

• Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, resulting in the death of more than 600,000 Americans each year. 
• Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation has been shown to drastically lower the risk of rehospitalization and death.
• During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) temporarily allowed certain in-home, virtual cardiopulmonary rehab programs to be reimbursed.
• This temporary policy expired in 2023, causing patients throughout the country to lose access to needed care, particularly in rural areas.

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