ScottCare proudly participated in Day on the Hill 2026, joining leaders from across the country in Washington, DC to advocate for the future of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation.
Hosted by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, this annual event brings together clinicians, industry partners, and policymakers to address challenges affecting cardiac and pulmonary rehab programs—and the patients who rely on them.
Why Advocacy Still Matters
Cardiopulmonary rehab professionals understand the value these programs bring. The challenge isn’t awareness—it’s ensuring continued access and sustainability.
Efforts like Day on the Hill focus on addressing reimbursement pressures, expanding access to care, and supporting the long-term viability of cardiac and pulmonary rehab programs nationwide.
Supporting the SOS Initiative
A key focus this year was asking legislators to cosponsor the Sustaining Outpatient Services (SOS) Act, which addresses the unintended consequences of Section 603 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015.
Section 603 introduced “site-neutral” payment policies intended to reduce costs by limiting how Medicare reimburses hospital outpatient services provided at off-campus locations. Under this policy:
- New or relocated off-campus hospital outpatient departments are reimbursed at a physician fee schedule rate rather than the hospital outpatient rate
- Services must be located within 250 yards of the main hospital campus to qualify for hospital outpatient reimbursement
While designed to address hospital acquisition of physician practices, this policy created unintended consequences for cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation. These services are not typically provided in physician offices, yet they are subject to the same restrictions.
As a result, Section 603 has:
- Created financial barriers to expanding or relocating rehab programs
- Limited the ability to bring services closer to patients
- Contributed to ongoing gaps in access to care
The SOS Act seeks to correct this by allowing low-cost outpatient services like cardiac and pulmonary rehab to expand without financial penalty—helping programs grow and improving patient access nationwide.
Voices from the Hill
“Day on the Hill is an annual event, and every year we bring information and stories from the cardiac rehabilitation programs in our state to meetings with congressional representatives and Senate offices,” said Dr. Joel Hughes, Professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Kent State University, who represented Ohio during this year’s advocacy efforts. “We are constituents, speaking on behalf of the patients who need access to cardiac rehabilitation in the states and districts they represent. They were interested in what we had to say, and with consistent advocacy, we have been seeing real progress in recent years.”
“Attending Day on the Hill connects policy to what’s happening in rehab programs every day,” said Theo Jordanides. “Advocating for solutions like the SOS Act is critical to ensuring programs can continue to expand access and support patients who rely on these services.”
ScottCare’s Commitment
ScottCare has a longstanding commitment to supporting cardiopulmonary rehab programs through both innovation and advocacy. By engaging in efforts like Day on the Hill, we help amplify the voices of clinicians and support policies that protect access, address reimbursement challenges, and strengthen the future of cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation.
Take Action and Stay Informed
ScottCare continues to stand with the cardiopulmonary rehab community. From advocating for initiatives like the SOS Act to supporting programs through education and guidance, we are committed to helping clinicians and patients succeed.
- Learn more about how advocacy protects cardiac and pulmonary rehab programs
- Discover how ScottCare supports the rehab community every step of the way
