What is Remote Patient Monitoring?

Remote physiologic monitoring (RPM), also known as remote patient monitoring, involves the collection and analysis of patient physiologic data that are used to develop and manage a treatment plan related to a chronic and/or acute health illness or condition. It allows providers to monitor disease and symptom progression remotely and then engage with patients virtually to modify care plans and to provide education on self-care based on changes in the patient’s condition. 

In short, RPM is not new. In 2019, CMS created new reimbursement codes for connected care services that enable providers to manage and coordinate patient care remotely. In 2020, CMS expanded this opportunity with additional reimbursement codes. Together, these codes are referred to as RPM. The four primary Medicare RPM codes are CPT codes 99453, 99454, 99457, and 99458.

Is remote patient monitoring considered telehealth?

Telehealth is a broader term that refers to the entire industry, methodology and technologies that enable that type of healthcare. Thus, RPM  is a type of telehealth that refers to the use of a specific technology to facilitate interaction between providers and patients at home. Why is remote patient monitoring important for patients and practices?

Remote patient monitoring examples

RPM involves the use of a device (for example, a cellular-enabled weight scale or blood pressure cuff) that collects and transmits patient data wirelessly to a provider. This collected data allows a provider to monitor changes in patient vital signs and act accordingly.

While RPM can be used for patients with acute and chronic conditions, it is more commonly used for patients with chronic conditions. That’s because nearly half of all Americans suffer from at least one chronic condition, and are faced with managing heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, or other health conditions everyday. With the help of a RPM solution, healthcare providers can continually provide ongoing support, timely information, and personalized resources that extend care beyond ambulatory settings. Examples include:

1. Hypertension management: For patients with high blood pressure, treatment is normally ongoing and involves medication. Known as “the silent killer”, patients with hypertension are relatively or completely asymptomatic. The only way to correctly identify whether a patient is experiencing high blood pressure is to measure it routinely. Enter a wireless blood pressure cuff. All patients need to do is place the cuff on their arm and press the power button to measure and transmit their blood pressure to their provider. Once a provider receives the timely and accurate data, they are able to provide timely, ongoing care. 
2. Heart failure: For patients with congestive heart failure, a steady or rapid gain in daily weight may indicate that their body is retaining fluid. Many people are first alerted to a worsening condition when they notice a weight gain of more than 2-3 pounds in a 24-hour period or more than 5 pounds in a week. That’s why it’s a good idea for people living with CHF to track their weight. By using a connected/smart scale, cardiologists receive alerts should any weight gain occur, which permits fast action that can help improve a patient’s condition and decrease the need for hospitalization.
3. Other examples include glucose monitoring, COPD management, weight measurement for obesity, and more.

How can I get started with remote patient monitoring?

Getting started with RPM is simple with Veta Health. We provide flexible enrollment options - including directly through your EMR - to support your practice in patient identification and eligibility checks. Our team handles everything from the management of patient intake and enrollment to cellular-enabled device integration. We monitor patient vitals data, document all interactions, and escalate care to your team when necessary. All device data and documentation is uploaded to the EHR. Each month, we provide your practice with a monthly report with billable RPM codes for each patient. Simple as that!

Conclusion

Veta Health’s turnkey RPM solution gives physician practices the ability to take advantage of RPM billing opportunities while also achieving success in quality and outcome measures under value-based arrangements.

To learn more about what Veta Health can do for your practice, please contact us here!