H.R. 1956 – Increasing Access to Quality Cardiac Rehabilitation Care Act of 2021

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 12:34 AM UTC

The bill changes Medicare rules so that, besides physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists can prescribe and deliver cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation services. It updates the Social Security Act and the Bipartisan Budget Act to reflect these broader provider definitions and moves the start date for the changes to January 1, 2022. The changes affect Medicare beneficiaries who need rehab and the expanded group of healthcare providers who can offer it.

Key Provisions

Allows physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists to prescribe exercise and provide cardiac rehabilitation services under Medicare, in addition to physicians
Extends the same provider eligibility to pulmonary rehabilitation services under Medicare
Updates the relevant sections of the Social Security Act to replace references to only physicians with the expanded provider list
Advances the effective date for these changes from January 1, 2024 to January 1, 2022

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

3 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

March 18, 2021

View full timeline

HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 17, 2021

HouseIntro Referral

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.

Energy and Commerce Committee

March 17, 2021

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

March 17, 2021

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

March 18, 2021

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode

Raw Text PDF XML

Introduced in HouseIssued March 17, 2021

I

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1956

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 17, 2021

Ms. Blunt Rochester (for herself, Mr. Smith of Nebraska, Mr. Kilmer, Mr. Fitzpatrick, and Mr. Welch) introduced the following bill; which was 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

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.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Increasing Access to Quality Cardiac Rehabilitation Care Act of 2021.

2.

Expanding access to cardiac rehabilitation programs and pulmonary rehabilitation programs under Medicare program

(a)

Cardiac rehabilitation programs

Section 1861(eee) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(eee)) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (2)—

(A)

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

(B)

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));

(2)

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

(3)

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)).

(b)

Pulmonary rehabilitation programs

Section 1861(fff) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(fff)) is amended—

(1)

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

(2)

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)).

(c)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2022.

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, 2022.