COPD Patients Benefit from Veto Override

Both houses of Congress acted to override President Bush's veto of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (H.R. 6331) the week of July 20-26 2008. The key addition to the Act adds pulmonary rehabilitation services as a Medicare covered benefit. This should allow most patients access to rehabilitation programs - a very important aspect for the care of COPD patients, according to BREATHE LA Board Member Dr Richard Barbers.

This piece of legislation included coverage for cardiac rehabilitation and pulmonary rehabilitation services. After President Bush vetoed HR6331, the House of Representatives overrode the veto by a vote of 383-41. The Senate followed with an override vote of its own, 70-26.

BREATHE LA commends our partner in Lung Health, Breathe New Hampshire, which took a leading role in advocacy efforts to ensure this legislative lung health victory!

"The action will improve the quality of life for many living with lung disease. This legislation will formally establish pulmonary rehabilitation as a specific Medicare benefit category, " says Breathe New Hampshire President/CEO Dan Fortin. "Pulmonary Rehabilitation is a program of exercise, education and social support designed for people living with lung diseases, such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Pulmonary Fibrosis, etc. Pulmonary rehabilitation has been shown to decrease shortness of breath and improve quality of life scores. Emerging research is also showing that pulmonary rehabilitation may reduce health care costs."

Dr Richard Barbers is co-Medical Director of University of Southern California (USC) Asthma and Allergy Center, Medical Director of the USC Lung Transplantation Program and Professor of Clinical Medicine / Clinical Cardiothoracic Surgery at Keck School of Medicine, USC.

For more information, contact Dr Barbers.