Medicare expands coverage for virtual pulmonary rehabilitation

New Medicare coverage for virtual pulmonary rehabilitation is enabling a matched-care approach, allowing patients to choose between center-based, hybrid, or virtual programs. Dr. Omid Pourshahid, director of pulmonary rehabilitation at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, discussed these developments at the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) 2026 Annual Meeting.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, amended the Social Security Act to permit hospital outpatient departments to provide pulmonary rehabilitation at home using real-time audio and video technology. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), while audio-only communication does not qualify, virtual sessions are reimbursed at the same rate as in-person rehabilitation.

This shift follows clinical practice guidelines from the American Thoracic Society (ATS) that recommend offering patients a choice between traditional center-based care and telerehabilitation. Previously, financial support and regulatory approval were largely restricted to center-based models, which limited the ability to individualize program structure and exercise intensity.