What’s Next for Pulmonary Rehab Coverage?

August 21, 2008

RTs working in pulmonary rehabilitation breathed a big sigh of relief last month when Congress overturned the Presidential veto of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act and a specific Medicare benefit for pulmonary rehab finally became law.

For many, that initial sense of victory, however, has turned into a string of unanswered questions. When will the benefit go into effect? Which services will be covered? What will be the frequency and duration of the services that are approved? And what do we do in the meantime?

The AARC has developed a new document aimed at answering those questions. Pulmonary Rehabilitation includes sections on:

• The New Benefit
• Current Coverage for Pulmonary Rehabilitation
• CPT and HCPCS Codes Used in Pulmonary Rehab Services
• Common Codes Pulmonary Rehab Programs Effectively Use
• HCPCS Codes
• CPT Codes
• Education CPT Codes
• Evaluation and Management (E&M) Codes
• Text of “Sec. 144: Payment and Coverage Improvements for Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Other Conditions” in the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008.