Remote patient monitoring (RPM) is a healthcare delivery method that uses digital technologies to monitor and analyze a patient’s health metrics outside of a traditional clinical setting. RPM technology electronically transmits health information between patients and providers. This type of monitoring is often used to manage and care for high-risk patients, such as those with acute or chronic health conditions.
FAQ
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Q1: What is Remote Patient Monitoring?
Q2: What are some of the benefits of using RPM?
RPM provides a wide range of benefits, including:
- Improved management of acute and chronic conditions
- Reduced hospitalizations and readmissions
- Lowered overall healthcare costs
- RPM helps reduce the risk of infectious disease exposure such as COVID-19 for patients, providers and healthcare workers.
RPM technology allows for the maintenance of the “Remote COVID world” as we see the crucial role technology plays in healthcare today. Remote monitoring helps keep patients safe, and out of the hospital.
Q3: Who can provide RPM services?
RPM can be ordered and provided by physicians or nurse practitioners (The ordering physician is not required to be the PCP). Clinical staff can deliver and manage RPM under the general supervision of the billing provider.
Q4: Who can receive RPM services?
Any patient with a chronic or acute condition may receive RPM services if the provider prescribes/orders RPM and it is supportive to managing or improving the patient’s condition.
Q5: Can RPM be ordered for new and established patients?
Yes, Medicare allows providers to order RPM services that are fully paid for by Medicare and most PPOs to new and established patients.
Q6: What are common examples of RPM devices?
The RPM device must be necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of the patient’s condition. It must or be used to gather and transmit data. RPM can employ wireless or wired measurement devices. Typically, these devices are Bluetooth blood pressure monitors, weight scales, pulse oximeters and blood glucose meters.
Q7: What are common types of patient health data collected with RPM?
Providers may use RPM to collect patient health data, including blood pressure, heart rate. Heart rate variability, vital signs, weight, blood sugar levels, blood oxygen levels, and physical activity.
Q8: What are the most common medical specialties that offer remote patient monitoring?
Specialties that utilize RPM include but are not limited to internal medicine, primary care, nephrology, cardiology, pulmonology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, and bariatrics.
Q9: What conditions can be managed with remote patient monitoring?
Some of the most common conditions that can be managed by RPM include hypertension, obesity, congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and diabetes.
Q10: Can chronic care management (CCM) be billed in conjunction with RPM?
Yes
Q11: Is there a copay associated with RPM services?
There is no copay with a supplemental policy or Medicare part B with a supplement. In addition, many private insurers are currently reimbursing for RPM.
References
- Life after COVID: Remote patient monitoring will be even more critical. (2021, September 1). McKnight’s Long-Term Care News. https://www.mcknights.com/blogs/guest-columns/life-after-covid-remote-patient-monitoring-will-be-even-more-critical/
- Medicare Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement FAQs: Everything You Need to Know About Chronic Care Remote Physiologic Monitoring Codes | Blogs | Health Care Law Today | Foley & Lardner LLP. (n.d.). Www.foley.com. Retrieved November 5, 2021, from https://www.foley.com/en/insights/publications/2018/11/medicareremote-patient-monitoring-reimbursement-fa
- New Reimbursement for Remote Patient Monitoring and Telemedicine. (2017, November 3). C&M Health Law. https://www.cmhealthlaw.com/2017/11/new-reimbursement-for-remote-patient-monitoring-and-telemedicine/