Medicare will no longer cover virtual pulmonary rehabilitation (VPR) administered by a hospital due to the end of the COVID Public Health Emergency. This has devastating impacts on Medicare patients who have been attending VPR for any number of reasons, such as living too far away from an in-person rehabilitation facility or those who are not healthy enough to visit in-person rehabilitation facilities. It is critical that patients have access to their preferred form of pulmonary rehabilitation, whether that be in-person or virtual, especially as COVID continues to be present in our communities.

Thankfully, Congress is considering a bill that would permanently establish payment for VPR under Medicare. The bill, H.R. 783/S. 248, would enact coverage of VPR administered through a hospital under Medicare. This bill has been introduced to both the House of Representatives and Senate and needs to pass through several Committees before it can be sent to the President and enacted into law. View the bills here: House/Senate

Now is the time for us as lung health advocates to make our voices heard and push for the passage of this important legislation!