The IACPR needs your help.  

The 2 bills below have a direct effect on the provision and reimbursement of cardiac and pulmonary rehab. 

•       We are asking you to call or email your representatives using your own program/patient/person stories –these usually mean the most! Phone numbers and links to their websites are below!

•       It is important to be able to tell/show our patients how important they are to us by advocating for them 

•       Your specific program may not be in need of these bills today, but you never know what the future holds (running out of hospital space) 

•       Once these pass it will be so rewarding to be able to say that you had a part in this legislation and improving access.

•       Recruit: Patients, friends, etc. Anyone can advocate, all you need is a passion for the topic (cardiac and pulmonary rehab –low cost, great outcomes, personal stories, etc.)

 

SOS: Sustaining Outpatient Services Act (H.R. 7666 / S. 3908)

•       This would “correct an unintended consequence created by the BBA (Bipartisan Budget Act) of 2015, Sect. 603 (Public Law 114-71), which decreased reimbursement for hospital outpatient programs that moved a current program to a new location > 250 yards from the hospital (this would include moving a current grandfathered program to a different suite in same location) or opening a new program > 250 yards from the hospital.

•       This bill has no known opposition, and CMS is supportive. Totally dependent on passage by legislature. As of 3/13/2026 House has 21 co-sponsors (none from Iowa) and Senate has 2 co-sponsors. 

•       What are we asking for: Support fair and sustainable payment policies to stabilize CR/PR programs and ensure all eligible patients can participate.

Sustainable Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Services in the Home Act (H.R. 783/ S. 248).

•       The recently passed Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 7148), which includes a provision to extend Medicare telehealth and in-home CR/PR rehab flexibilities through 2027 is a temporary solution.

•       This bill would permanently allow MC beneficiaries to receive CR or PR services via virtual telecommunications technology (real-time, audio-video) in the beneficiary’s home. Virtual supervision would be allowed through this two-way A-V technology. 

•       As of 3/13/2026, there are 36 co-sponsors in the House. Miller-Meeks is our only state representative currently signed on as a co-sponsor and Senate has 6 co-sponsors.

•       What we are we asking: Make this flexibility permanent so patients facing transportation, geographic, or other barriers can continue receiving care at home. 

 

Phone numbers and links to your representatives and senators

Iowa Representatives

•       District #1

            Miller-Meeks, Mariannette

                  Phone #:(202) 225-6576

•       District #2

            Hinson, Ashley

                  Phone#:(202) 225-2911

•       District #3

            Nunn, Zachary

                  Phone #:(202) 225-5476

•       District #4

            Feenstra, Randy

                  Phone#:(202) 225-4426

 

Iowa’s Senators

•       Ernst, Joni

o   Phone #: (202) 224-3254

•       Grassley, Chuck 

o   Phone #: (202) 224-3744

 

Aleshia Bloker, IACPR legislative chairperson, and Desiree McDonough, IACPR member, attended Day on the Hill to keep fighting for the support of cardiac and pulmonary rehab.  Check out the article to learn more and thank these IACPR members for their hard work.

Check out this News and Views article from the AACVPR 

Momentum on the Hill: AACVPR Advocates for Telehealth and In-Home Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab Permanency

Please check out the IACPR Newsletter for info about what's going one now with our association.

IACPR Newsletter 2026 Final.docx

Please take a moment to read this article featuring our own Aleshia Bloker, BSN, CCRP, about her experience with AACVPR's Day on the Hill.

DOTH 2025: Passion, Strategic Thinking, and a Plan Lead to Advocacy Confidence

This year the IACPR is honoring Kim Eppen for her amazing contributions to this association.

From Janie Knipper:

Kim Eppen is an extremely valuable asset to Pulmonary Rehab, IACPR, & AACVPR; but most of all to the patients who had the opportunity to work with Kim. Kim's positive approach to patients and their significant others, and her use of health coaching made a tremendous impact on their lives, helping them to see the changes that are needed to be made to live a better life. Kim's ability to teach the science of exercise in an understandable and practical way helped all of us as staff become better practitioners. I was truly blessed to have had the opportunity to work so closely with Kim & learn from her for so many years!

 Eric Larson:

Kim has been a huge asset to the organization, not only with her experience in the field and willingness to share that through presentations and publications, but also her overall love of the field. She is passionate in what she teaches, and that passion is seen by all. She has been an active member for years and has presented multiple times at both the national and state level. 

Brandy Tripp:

Kim was created to do good work, to empower & inspire. She has worked in Pulmonary Rehab for 26 years and her passion for what we do is contagious. She has held academic positions throughout her entire career and is committed to challenging herself and to continued learning. She is invested in challenging herself, her colleagues in the field, the future of our field, and most importantly our patients. Kim's clinical experience, knowledge, passion, & willingness to share in the service of others is unmatched. 

Kim Eppen PT, PhD, FAACVPR is the Distinguished Member of the Year.

Eric Larson(L) now IACPR president-elect, Kim Eppen (C),

and Brandy Tripp (R) IACPR president.

This year the IACPR leadership chose to create a new award to acknowledge a program, in Iowa, that has made significant contributions to the provision of Cardiac and/or Pulmonary Rehabilitation by recognizing them as the "IACPR Distinguished Program of the Year"

Congratulations to the Pulmonary Rehabilitation program at the UI Health Care Medical Center, which is the 2024 IACPR Distinguished Program of the Year.

Please read the following link to see the contributions of this program.

IACPR Distinguished Program of the Year.docx

The fall newsletter is now available.  Take a peak to see what opportunities are available for members. Click the link below.

IACPR Fall 2023 Newsletter.docx

At the spring conference, Susan Flack was honored as the Distinguished Member of the Year. The following is the nomination provided by Eric Larson and Brandy Tripp.

IACPR 2023 Distinguished Member of the Year

Susan Flack

IACPR would like each year to acknowledge an individual who has made significant contributions to the state affiliate society by recognizing them as the ‘IACPR Distinguished Member of the Year’.

The Distinguished Member Award symbolizes exactly everything that this years recipient is…a mentor, a leader, a workhorse and a friend.  I personally, along with several others had the great pleasure of nominating and now awarding, Susan Flack of UnityPoint with this years Distinguished Member Award for 2023.  She has been with the organization for many years and has worn many hats, but nothing more fitting then the current hat she wears not just for IACPR, but AACVPR as well, which is the AACVPR J5 MAC Task Liaison.  She recently got back from DC where she once again attended ‘Day on the Hill’, where she was able to meet with several Iowa representatives, to help in getting our voice heard.  Also in the past year, Susan had the distinct honor of being recognized as a Fellow by AACVPR, a very prestigious and much deserved honor.  So with much appreciation and much gratitude, I present Susan Flack with this years ‘Distinguished Member of the Year’ award

Please click the following link to view the fall newsletter!

IACPR Fall 2022 Newsletter.docx

Please click the link below to view the IACPR fall newsletter.

IACPR Newsletter Fall 2020 copy.pdf