Bills · S 248
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
Senate BillS 248MedicareCardiovascular and respiratory health
Sustainable Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Services in the Home Act
INTRO JAN 24· LAST ACTION JAN 24
READING
4MIN
COSPONSORS
5BIPARTISAN
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed Senate
Passed House
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill matters because it would permanently expand access to critical rehabilitation services for people recovering from serious heart and lung conditions. If this bill becomes law, patients, especially those with mobility issues, living in rural areas, or lacking reliable transportation, could continue to access their rehabilitation programs from home via telehealth. This could lead to better adherence to treatment plans, improved health outcomes, and a higher quality of life, as they won't have to miss appointments due to travel difficulties.
If this bill does not become law, the current flexibilities that allow for in-home, virtual cardiopulmonary rehabilitation would eventually expire, meaning these patients would likely have to return to receiving these services only in traditional clinical settings. This could create barriers to care for many, potentially leading to poorer recovery rates and increased strain on medical facilities. Voters should care because it impacts healthcare accessibility and effectiveness for a significant portion of the elderly and disabled population covered by Medicare.
KEY PROVISIONS
4AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Permanently allows cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation services to be provided in a patient's home as a telehealth service using real-time audio-visual technology under Medicare.
This ensures continued access to critical recovery care for patients who may struggle to travel to physical clinics, improving convenience and potentially adherence to treatment.
PROVISION 02
Allows the required medical supervision for these in-home rehabilitation programs to be done virtually through real-time audio-visual communication.
This flexibility makes it practical for healthcare professionals to oversee patient progress remotely, supporting the viability of home-based rehabilitation.
PROVISION 03
Removes geographic restrictions for certain telehealth services related to cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, meaning patients no longer need to reside in rural areas to receive these specific telehealth services.
This significantly broadens access to telehealth rehabilitation for all Medicare beneficiaries, regardless of their location, breaking down barriers for urban and suburban dwellers alike.
PROVISION 04
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish standards within 30 days for designating a patient's home as a 'provider-based location of a hospital' for these rehabilitation services.
This clarifies the operational and billing framework for hospitals to effectively offer and be reimbursed for these services at a patient's home, ensuring a smooth transition for the permanent changes.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 5
R· Tennessee
YRS IN OFFICE
23
BILLS LED
143
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 80%
DEM 3 REP 2 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSJAN 24
Introduced in Senate
JAN 24
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
BILL INFO
TypeSenate Bill
NumberS 248
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedJan 24, 2025
Last actionJan 24, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · FINANCE COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED JAN 24, 2025
Senate BillS 248MedicareCardiovascular and respiratory health
Sustainable Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Services in the Home Act
INTRODUCED JAN 24, 2025· LAST ACTION JAN 24, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
4 min
COSPONSORS
5
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
