The Benefits of RPM for Medically Underserved Communities
Over the past several years, remote patient monitoring (RPM) has become a valuable way for patients in medically underserved communities to access healthcare they otherwise might not be able to receive. RPM removes common barriers – such as access to transportation, time off work, and language divides – that impact the ability of many patients to get the right ongoing and follow-up medical care.
Additionally, patients in medically underserved communities typically have higher rates of chronic conditions, like high blood pressure, diabetes, heart failure and asthma, that require more frequent monitoring and a greater level of engagement that RPM is able to support.
While RPM has proven to benefit patients in these communities, the practices that serve in these areas have been limited in their opportunity to get reimbursed for RPM services – making it difficult to sustain these programs. Many practices have relied on grants and similar funding opportunities to build and sustain these programs. That was, until this year.
Under the 2024 Final PFS FQHCs and RHCs Can Bill for RPM
Beginning in 2024, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Centers (RHCs) can bill for RPM and remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM) under the general care management HCPCS code G0511, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Calendar Year (CY) 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule.
This landmark rule is a win for FQHCs and RHCs because healthcare providers at these organizations are able to invest in remote patient care, without relying on grants or funding that may expire. With this stable funding pathway, practices can build out RPM and RTM programs, monitor chronic conditions, and enroll more patients. The result is a self-funding program for providers that enables a positive impact on patient outcomes.
RPM Success Stories with FQHCs and RHCs
Time and again, studies have shown that RPM programs provide multiple patient benefits and positively impact patient outcomes, including in medically underserved communities. For FQHCs and RHCs considering RPM, here are a few success stories from current FQHC and RHC customers:
1. Green River Medical Center
Green River Medical Center, located in Green River, Utah, utilized Rimidi’s RPM platform to support patients with hypertension, as a result of funding received from the HRSA Hypertension Awards. Through the RPM program, providers have been able to monitor and care for their hypertension patients, which led to improved patient behaviors and outcomes, as well as a hypertension control rate of 67 percent.
2. Northeast Valley Health Corporation (NEVHC)
Located in San Fernando, California, NEVHC started their RPM program by leveraging grant money. By implementing this RPM program through Rimidi’s platform, the FQHC was able to improve their patients’ hypertension outcomes. Specifically, when the program started there was a 38 percent control rate among the first 50 enrolled patients. Within six months those 50 patients had a 70 percent control rate.
3. Brighter Day Health Foundation
Rimidi recently partnered with Brighter Day Health Foundation, a 501(c)3 created to help address the chronic care needs of vulnerable populations through church-based wellness clinics. The organizations are working together to provide medically underserved communities in Atlanta with access to chronic disease management within their local churches, including RPM. The patients enrolled in the program have access to a nurse practitioner and registered dietitian to aid in managing their chronic conditions. Rimidi’s RPM platform allows the clinical team to remotely track blood pressure, receive notifications about concerning readings, and monitor trends with the ultimate goal of helping patients better manage their chronic conditions and improve their health overall.
The Future of RPM for Medically Underserved Communities
In paving the way for improved healthcare access to medically underserved communities in 2024 and beyond, the 2024 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule made significant strides by permitting FQHCs and RHCs to receive reimbursement for RPM programs, enabling practitioners to provide patients with greater access to tools and resources for managing health conditions, and, ultimately, enhancing health outcomes.
To learn more about how to implement an RPM program at your FQHC, RHC or a community health-focused organization, visit rimidi.com/contact.
