Three Rivers Society for Cardiovascular  and Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Latest News on S. 329 and H.R. 552

3RSCVPR is wholeheartedly committed to helping AACVPR achieve their legislative goals, namely establishing a benefit category for both cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation that is written into the Medicare statute. This would remove our profession from the confusing “incident to physician services” payment category through which we are currently reimbursed.

 

Legislative and Regulatory Update

A specific benefit category would mean that we would no longer be subject to the whims of our Fiscal Intermediaries (FI) regarding coverage of our services, since coverage would be mandated by Medicare.

Towards this end, we have been successful at getting the following legislators to sign on as co-sponsors of AACVPR’s legislative initiative:

             Congressman Michael Doyle (D) 14th District

             Congressman Phil English (R) 3rd District

             Congressman Jason Altmire (D) 4th District

             Congressman John Murtha (D) 12th District

Congresswoman Melissa Hart, and Senator Rick Santorum also signed on as co-sponsors, but unfortunately did not win re-election to another term.

Congressman Tim Murphy (R)  18th District has met with us several times to discuss this important legislation, but has yet to commit to co-sponsorship. Given how close we are to achieving our goal, it is even more important than ever that we keep the pressure up on Tim Murphy.

This is a good start, but many more signatures are needed before we can be certain that our efforts will be successful. YOU CAN HELP!

You don’t need to be a high priced Washington lobbyist, or have lots of political experience to take action. All you really need is a voter registration card. Politicians really listen to those who hold the power to vote them out of their jobs. This is why it is so vitally important to get personally involved. Contact your Senators and your Representative and tell them that this issue is important to YOU as one of their CONTITUENTS.  No one else can do that for you. No One.

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AACVPR makes it even easier for you and your patients to make your views heard.  Click on this link to see how.  http://capwiz.com/aacvpr/issues/?style=D