Sustainable Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Services in the Home Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 783
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-01-28: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-12T08:06:03Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation, titled the "Sustainable Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Services in the Home Act" (H.R. 783), aims to make permanent certain temporary flexibilities introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. These allow Medicare beneficiaries to receive cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation services in their homes via telehealth, rather than only in clinical settings, to improve access to care for heart and lung conditions.
Key Provisions
- Expansion of In-Home Services: Amends the Social Security Act to permit cardiac rehabilitation (including intensive programs) and pulmonary rehabilitation to be provided in a patient's home. This includes delivery as a telehealth service using two-way audio-visual technology or by designating the home as a "provider-based location" of a hospital outpatient department (meaning the home is treated like an extension of the hospital for billing and oversight purposes).
- Physician Supervision Flexibility: Allows supervision of these programs by physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, or clinical nurse specialists through virtual means via audio-visual technology.
- Telehealth Site Expansions: Updates Medicare rules to include hospitals as eligible providers for telehealth services. It waives geographic restrictions (typically requiring rural or underserved areas) for in-home cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation visits at certain designated sites.
- Rulemaking Requirement: Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to issue regulations establishing standards for treating homes as provider-based hospital locations (building on the temporary "Hospital Without Walls" program from the pandemic). It also requires adding these rehabilitation programs to the list of Medicare-covered telehealth services, effective upon issuance.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Permanence for Temporary Measures: Codifies COVID-19-era waivers that previously allowed only short-term in-home and telehealth options for rehabilitation; these will no longer expire.
- Broader Telehealth Access: Expands the definition of eligible "originating sites" (where patients receive telehealth) to include patient homes without location-based limits for these specific programs, and adds hospitals to the list of providers who can bill for such services.
- Inclusion in Telehealth Lists: Formally lists cardiac, intensive cardiac, and pulmonary rehabilitation as covered telehealth services under Medicare, which were not previously standard.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: Medicare beneficiaries with heart or lung conditions (e.g., after heart attacks or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) gain easier, more convenient access to rehabilitation at home, potentially reducing travel burdens, improving adherence to treatment, and enhancing health outcomes, especially for those in remote or mobility-limited situations.
- On Government Agencies: HHS and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will need to develop and implement new standards and update reimbursement rules, increasing administrative workload but streamlining long-term Medicare telehealth policies.
- On International Relations: No direct impact, as this is a domestic healthcare policy focused on U.S. Medicare.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Medicare Beneficiaries: Primary recipients, particularly older adults or those with cardiopulmonary issues who may benefit from home-based care.
- Healthcare Providers: Hospitals, outpatient departments, physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists offering rehabilitation services, who can now expand telehealth offerings and bill for in-home visits.
- Government Entities: HHS and CMS, responsible for rulemaking, oversight, and Medicare payments.
- Insurers and Payers: Indirectly affected through changes in Medicare reimbursement models for telehealth.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens Medicare's telehealth framework by embedding pandemic-era innovations into permanent law, ensuring consistent billing and compliance without ongoing waivers. It may reduce legal challenges related to service access under the Social Security Act.
- Constitutional: No major issues; aligns with Congress's authority to regulate interstate commerce and social welfare programs like Medicare.
- Political: Bipartisan support (introduced by representatives from both parties) reflects post-COVID priorities for healthcare flexibility and access. It could set a precedent for making other temporary telehealth expansions permanent, influencing future health policy debates on rural and home-based care.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (37)
Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1], Rep. Murphy, Gregory F. [R-NC-3], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Balderson, Troy [R-OH-12], Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12], Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5], Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1], Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1], Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Scott, David [D-GA-13], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7], Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12], Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8], Rep. Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16], Rep. Crenshaw, Dan [R-TX-2], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Obernolte, Jay [R-CA-23], Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Walberg, Tim [R-MI-5], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Moore, Blake D. [R-UT-1], Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22], Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2], Rep. Bresnahan, Robert P. [R-PA-8], Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5], Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8], Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9], Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3]
Recent Actions
- 2025-01-28: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-01-28: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-01-28: Introduced in House
- 2025-01-28: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Sustainable Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Services in the Home Act — issued 2025-01-28 — PDF (5 pages)