S. 1986 – Increasing Access to Quality Cardiac Rehabilitation Care Act of 2021

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 4:07 AM UTC

The bill expands Medicare coverage for cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation by allowing a broader range of health professionals—physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists—to prescribe exercise and participate in these programs. It updates the Social Security Act language to reflect these providers and moves the start date for the changes earlier. The changes affect Medicare beneficiaries who need rehab services and the clinicians who deliver them.

Key Provisions

Allows physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists to prescribe exercise and be involved in Medicare‑covered cardiac rehabilitation programs, not just physicians.
Extends the same authority to these non‑physician providers for Medicare‑covered pulmonary rehabilitation programs.
Amends the relevant sections of the Social Security Act to insert the new provider definitions and language.
Advances the effective date for these changes from January 1, 2024 to January 1, 2022.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Finance Committee

June 9, 2021

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

June 9, 2021

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Finance Committee

June 9, 2021

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued June 9, 2021

II

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1986

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 9, 2021

Mrs. Capito (for herself and Ms. Klobuchar) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

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.