Lung Association Commends House Passage of Pulmonary, Cardiac Rehabilitation Act

The American Lung Association commends members of the House of Representatives for their
passage of the Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehabilitation Act today. As part of the overarching Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008, the Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehabilitation Act is a critical measure that will make life easier for millions of Americans who suffer from serious lung disease, including many older, Medicare-eligible adults who suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the association says in a statement.

The lung association also calls on the Senate to pass this legislation so it can begin working for the millions of Americans in need.

"We applaud Chairman Dingell, Chairman Rangel and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus for their leadership on behalf of this legislation," says Bernadette Toomey, president and CEO of the American Lung Association. "Passage of this bill, which will help millions of Americans suffering from lung disease, has been a priority for the American Lung Association for several years."

COPD, which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis, is the fourth-ranking cause of death in the United States. As of 2004, 11.4 million U.S. adults were diagnosed with COPD and an additional 12 million were believed to have the disease but were not yet clinically diagnosed. Each year, COPD claims the lives of an estimated 120,000 Americans.

This legislation will create a national coverage policy for pulmonary rehabilitation so that Medicare beneficiaries in all states will have access to this cost-effective treatment, the lung association says. The legislation will also end long-standing confusion among providers, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and various reimbursement agencies, as to whether pulmonary rehabilitation is a covered benefit, it adds.

Pulmonary rehabilitation helps reduce the impact of COPD by helping to control or reduce breathlessness and recondition the body. With this comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach which includes exercise, education and breathing retraining, people with COPD can experience great benefits, including less need for medications, fewer hospital stays, longer survival and a better quality of life.

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