Does Medicare cover rehab after a heart attack?

While heart disease is the leading cause of death every year in the U.S. for men and women, it can often be prevented when people manage their choices and health conditions.

If you have already had a heart attack, you and your physician should discuss a comprehensive Cardiac Rehabilitation Program (CR) that includes exercise, education, and counseling. This program is covered by Original Medicare Part B.

Medicare Part B also covers Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation (ICR) programs that, like regular Cardiac Rehabilitation programs, include exercise, education, and counseling. ICR programs are typically more rigorous than CR programs. These programs may be provided in a hospital outpatient setting (including a critical access hospital) or in a doctor's office.
People with Medicare Part B are covered, but must be referred by their doctor and have had any of the following conditions:

• A heart attack in the last 12 months
• Coronary artery bypass surgery
• Current stable angina pectoris  
• A heart valve repair or replacement
• A coronary angioplasty or coronary stent  
• A heart or heart-lung transplant
• Stable chronic heart failure

Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation (ICR) programs are also covered if your doctor orders it or if you have had any of the conditions listed above, with the exception of stable chronic heart failure, which applies only to CR programs.

Those with Original Medicare will be responsible to pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount if you get the services in a doctor's office. If you receive care in a hospital outpatient setting, you will be responsible to pay the hospital a copayment. The Part B deductible applies.
     
Your doctor or other health care provider may recommend you get services more often than Medicare covers. Or, they may recommend services that Medicare doesn’t cover. If this happens, you may have to pay some or all of the costs. It’s important to ask questions so you understand why your doctor is recommending certain services and whether Medicare will pay for them
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If you have questions concerning insurance including Life, Health, Vision, Hearing or Medicare Advantage Plans, contact me at 440-255-5700 or Lmutsko@mutskoinsurance.com. I look forward to assisting you.