S. 717 — Introduced in Senate

II 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 717 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 25, 2025Mrs. 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 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 2025. 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 setting; 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 the date that is 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act.