Bill proposes to allow non-physicians to supervise cardiac rehab programs
Lynn Jenkins, a Republican Congresswoman from Kansas, introduced a bill on Feb. 16 proposing that non-physician providers be allowed to supervise cardiac, intensive cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs.
Under the bill, known as H.R. 1155, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists would be allowed to supervise such programs. The bill would amend title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, which currently only allows physicians to supervise the programs.
The bill was referred to the House Energy and Commerce committee and the House Ways and Means committee.
Jenkins is the sponsor of the bill, while the co-sponsors are Representatives John Lewis (Democrat from Georgia), Patrick Meehan (Republican from Pennsylvania), David E. Price (Democrat from North Carolina) and Jeff Fortenberry (Republican from Nebraska).
In December, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services finalized a new payment model for cardiac rehabilitation in 90 geographic areas.
Under the cardiac rehabilitation incentive payment model, participating hospitals will receive $25 per cardiac rehabilitation service for each of the first 11 services paid for by Medicare during the care period for an acute MI or CABG care episode and $175 per service during care period after 11 services.
American College of Cardiology President Richard Chazal, MD, praised the proposed legislation.
“Cardiac rehabilitation can be a vital component of a patient's recovery from a heart attack, heart surgery or for management of heart failure,” Chazal said in a news release. “Supervision requirements for cardiac rehab are currently more stringent than other outpatient services; this negatively impacts access for our patients in areas with physician shortages and drives up costs for these programs. If enacted, this legislation will allow the cardiovascular community’s well-qualified advanced practice providers to provide the day-to-day supervision of cardiac rehab and help us meet the needs of our patients. We thank Rep. Jenkins and Rep. Lewis for their leadership and commitment.”
Executive Editor
Tim Casey joined TriMed Media Group in 2015 as Executive Editor. For the previous four years, he worked as an editor and writer for HMP Communications, primarily focused on covering managed care issues and reporting from medical and health care conferences. He was also a staff reporter at the Sacramento Bee for more than four years covering professional, college and high school sports. He earned his undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Notre Dame and his MBA degree from Georgetown University.