Heart Disease is the #1 killer of Americans. Access to Virtual Cardiac Rehabilitation ended on May 11, 2023. The virtual option is a necessity for patients with limited access to transportation, limited or no access to cardiac outpatient facilities, or patients who are on waitlists for facilities.

Sign this petition to send Congress a clear message - all Americans should have access to the virtual option for cardiac rehabilitation.

Did you know? 

• Heart Disease is the #1 killer of Americans.  Among Americans over 65 years of age - 80% have cardiovascular disease
• Cardiac rehab works. It is proven to reduce future cardiovascular events and mortality and is recommended by the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC).
• Cardiac rehab participation rates have room to grow.  Only 20% of clinically eligible patients start, and just 8% complete a program - this is well below the 70% goal that the Center for Disease Control has set through the Million Hearts Initiative.
• The Virtual Option improves access to and equity of care.  With virtual cardiac rehab (VCR), patients can receive care in the comfort of their own home after a major cardiac event.  Non-urban, rural and lower income patients can save on time and cost of travel and avoid limited facility hours, staffing, and long waitlists.
• Cardiac rehab is cost-effective for Medicare. It has been shown to extend the life of a patient by 5 years on average and reduce hospitalizations by 40%. 

What are the concerns? 

• Is VCR safe for patients?  Yes. Similar to cardiac rehab delivered in hospital outpatient facilities or physician groups, VCR sessions are led by clinicians with provider oversight. Clinicians provide individualized treatment plans that result in improvements to clinical outcomes.
• Is VCR effective?  Yes. There is a large body of evidence that VCR may be as effective as facility-based options along with support for a home-based option, particularly for patients with access issues, according to the Cleveland Clinic.  H.R. 1406 allows patients to receive VCR via telehealth.
• Is VCR expensive?  Facility-based services are widely covered by Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans. It is anticipated, with extended coverage by Medicare, that commercial insurers will adopt coverage of virtual cardiac rehab as a service that will help reduce downstream medical costs.

Sign and share this petition to support H.R. 1406 so all Americans can resume access to the Virtual Option for cardiac rehabilitation.