Reimagining Cardiac Rehabilitation in the Era of Coronavirus Disease 2019
Vivek Vishwanath, Adam L. Beckman, Dhruv S. Kazi
Abstract
The coronavirus pandemic has spurred significant growth in home-based cardiology care, facilitated by delivery and financing innovations. Since February 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have issued 190 ambulatory care waivers, including allowing virtual cardiology visits. As a result, 25% to 34% of Medicare beneficiaries have received telehealth care during the pandemic, compared with less than 1% in 2016. 1 On October 14, in an unprecedented move, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services initiated reimbursements for virtual cardiac rehabilitation. Lessons learned from virtual delivery during the pandemic should inform delivery and payment reform for cardiac rehabilitation going forward.