1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Increasing Access to Quality Cardiac Rehabilitation Care Act of 2019”.
Increasing Access to Quality Cardiac Rehabilitation Care Act of 2019
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act and the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 to expand and expedite access to cardiac rehabilitation programs and pulmonary rehabilitation programs under the Medicare program, and for other purposes.
2. Expanding access to cardiac rehabilitation programs and pulmonary rehabilitation programs under Medicare program
Cardiac rehabilitation programs— Section 1861(eee) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(eee)) is amended—
in paragraph (2)—
in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking “a physician’s office” and inserting “the office of a physician (as defined in subsection (r)(1)) or the office of a physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist (as those terms are defined in subsection (aa)(5))”; and
in subparagraph (C), by inserting after “physician” the following: “(as defined in subsection (r)(1)) or a physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist (as those terms are defined in subsection (aa)(5))”;
in paragraph (3)(A), by striking “physician-prescribed exercise” and inserting “exercise prescribed by a physician (as defined in subsection (r)(1)) or a physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist (as those terms are defined in subsection (aa)(5))”; and
in paragraph (5), by inserting after “physician” the following: “(as defined in subsection (r)(1)) or a physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist (as those terms are defined in subsection (aa)(5))”.
Pulmonary rehabilitation programs— Section 1861(fff) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(fff)) is amended—
in paragraph (2)(A), by striking “physician-prescribed exercise” and inserting “exercise prescribed by a physician (as defined in subsection (r)(1)) or a physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist (as those terms are defined in subsection (aa)(5))”; and
in paragraph (3), by inserting after “physician” the following: “(as defined in subsection (r)(1)) or a physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist (as those terms are defined in subsection (aa)(5))”.
Effective date— The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2021.
3. Expediting access to cardiac rehabilitation programs and pulmonary rehabilitation programs under Medicare program
Section 51008(c) of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–123; 42 U.S.C. 1395x note) is amended by striking “January 1, 2024” and inserting “January 1, 2021”.