WASHINGTON - This month, Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Shelley Capito (R-WV) introduced the Increasing Access to Quality Cardiac Rehabilitation Care Act of 2023. The bipartisan legislation would expand and expedite patient access to cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation services by authorizing physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists to order patients to cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation under Medicare.
Cardiovascular disease is the second leading cause of death in Minnesota. According to a study by the Minnesota Department of Health, less than half of eligible Minnesotans initiated life-saving cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation (cardiac rehab) after a heart attack, heart surgery, or other heart event. Cardiovascular and Pulmonary rehabilitation helps patients manage their symptoms, enhance their overall mental health and well-being, reduce the risk of hospitalization and death, improve heart function, and prevent future heart events.
“Ensuring timely access to cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs is critical to improving the lives of people who need cardiovascular care, especially in rural areas,” Senator Klobuchar said. “Our bipartisan legislation will expand who can refer patients to these programs, helping connect more people to the care they need and ensuring they get that care faster.”
“As states across our country – especially in rural areas – face shortages of health care professionals, we must take steps to ensure patients are able to receive the care that they need,” Senator Capito said. “By reducing barriers to accessing cardiac rehabilitation and pulmonary rehabilitation, we can help improve the health of those living with heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This is particularly important in places like West Virginia, where these diseases impact the lives of far too many residents. I’m proud to introduce this legislation and put forward solutions that increase the level of health services available to West Virginians who need them most.”
The Increasing Access to Quality Cardiac Rehabilitation Care Act of 2023 builds upon legislation Klobuchar passed as part of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 to authorize physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists to supervise cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation beginning in 2024.
The Increasing Access to Quality Cardiac Rehabilitation Care Act of 2023 is supported by several leading healthcare organizations, including: American Heart Association; American Lung Association; American Nurses Association; National Rural Health Association; American Academy of Physician Assistants; American Association of Nurse Practitioners; American Association for Respiratory Care; American College of Cardiology; American Thoracic Society; Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association; and WomenHeart.
Klobuchar has continually advocated for increased access to cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitative care.
In October, Klobuchar, along with Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), introduced the Sustainable Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Services in the Home Act, which would permanently allow patients to receive in-home cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation telehealth services under Medicare. In June, Klobuchar and Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) introduced the SOS: Sustaining Outpatient Services Act that would enable hospitals to relocate or open new pulmonary and cardiac rehabilitation outpatient clinics, without jeopardizing the financial viability of providing these services.
In 2019 and 2021, Klobuchar and Capito introduced the Increasing Access to Quality Cardiac Rehabilitation Care Act of 2019 and 2021, authorizing physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists to order cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation under Medicare.
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