Managing chronic musculoskeletal and respiratory conditions often requires strict medication adherence. However, over 50% of chronic care patients do not take their medication as prescribed. To better address this challenge, remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM) is one solution that integrates medication adherence tracking with smart pillbox technology.
A smart pillbox is a tool musculoskeletal and respiratory specialists can use to help guide medication adherence more effectively. This article examines how musculoskeletal and respiratory specialists can leverage smart pillbox technology to enhance medication adherence among patients, improve patient outcomes, and streamline chronic care management.
We also identify medications compatible with smart pillboxes for Medicare reimbursement, as RTM medication adherence services can be billed to Medicare by musculoskeletal and respiratory specialists.
Smart PillBox Technology for RTM
Tenovi’s Smart Pillbox offers cellular-connected medication adherence for musculoskeletal and respiratory conditions. It does so by tracking medication opening, closing, and refill events. The smart pillbox accommodates a.m. and p.m. multi-medication tracking with compartments that hold up to 14 pills.
The pillbox connects to the Tenovi Cellular Gateway and uses a red light/green light reminder system for added adherence. The gateway transmits medication events to the Tenovi Cloud in seconds.
Medication tracking gives musculoskeletal and respiratory specialists insights into how often patients take their medication. This consistent data optimizes treatment planning for patients with musculoskeletal and respiratory conditions, leading to better health, quality of life, and lower healthcare costs.
When patients take medication as prescribed and follow their treatment plan, they are less likely to require emergency care. Additionally, RTM medication adherence data can screen patients for clinical trials and identify which individuals are interested in and most likely eligible for a study.
The following sections outline musculoskeletal and respiratory specialists that are eligible to bill for medication adherence remote therapeutic monitoring services.
Musculoskeletal Specialists
Musculoskeletal and respiratory specialists often treat conditions that require ongoing medication management. McKinsey and Company reported that rheumatology and pulmonology were among the top ten specialties in which to engage in telehealth. Additionally, between 40 and 60 percent of consumers express interest in broader virtual health solutions.
Another recent study found that 60 percent of rheumatology patients prefer telemedicine for routine visits and review of their laboratory results. This means that this population may benefit from digital pillbox technology.
Below are musculoskeletal specialists and their focus areas:
- Rheumatologists: are experts in autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. They frequently prescribe medications such as DMARDs, biologics, NSAIDs, and corticosteroids to manage inflammation and slow disease progression.
- Orthopedic Surgeons: focus on conditions involving bones, joints, and muscles, including injuries and degenerative disorders. Their treatments may include NSAIDs, analgesics, or muscle relaxants for pain relief post-surgery or injury.
- Physiatrists (Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Specialists): specialize in improving mobility and reducing pain, often addressing chronic conditions or recovery after injury with muscle relaxants, analgesics, and physical therapy.
- Pain Management Specialists: treat chronic pain syndromes, utilizing medications like opioids, topical analgesics, and NSAIDs as part of multimodal pain relief strategies.
- Sports Medicine Specialists: focus on sports-related injuries and overuse conditions, prescribing NSAIDs, corticosteroids, and muscle relaxants to support recovery and reduce inflammation.
- Endocrinologists: manage conditions such as osteoporosis, utilizing bisphosphonates like Alendronate to strengthen bones and prevent fractures.
- Primary Care Physicians (PCPs): serve as the first point of contact for patients with general musculoskeletal issues, often prescribing medications like NSAIDs and muscle relaxants while coordinating care with musculoskeletal specialists.
Respiratory Specialists
Medication adherence is critical to managing symptoms and improving the quality of life for patients with respiratory disease.
The following respiratory specialists may benefit from offering medication adherence tracking through RTM.
- Pulmonologists: treat respiratory conditions such as asthma, COPD, and interstitial lung disease. They prescribe bronchodilators, inhaled corticosteroids, leukotriene modifiers, and monoclonal antibodies to manage airflow and reduce inflammation.
- Allergists and Immunologists: focus on allergic respiratory conditions like asthma and rhinitis, often using antihistamines, leukotriene modifiers, and biologics (e.g., Omalizumab) to control symptoms.
- Otolaryngologists (ENT Specialists): manage upper respiratory conditions, such as sinusitis and nasal congestion, with treatments including antihistamines, decongestants, and antibiotics.
- Infectious Disease Specialists: handle complex respiratory infections, prescribing targeted antibiotics and mucolytics for recovery.
- Critical Care Specialists: manage severe respiratory conditions, such as ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome), using advanced therapies and mucolytics.
- Primary Care Physicians (PCPs): often diagnose and treat mild to moderate respiratory issues, including acute bronchitis, with bronchodilators, antihistamines, and decongestants.
For musculoskeletal and respiratory specialists, the Tenovi Pillbox provides a powerful tool to enhance medication adherence, supporting respiratory specialists in achieving better health outcomes.
Specialists can also help patients with asthma and COPD track rescue and medication inhaler use with the Adherium Hailie® Sensor system through Tenovi. The sensors remind patients when it’s time to take their medication and ensure proper use.
Musculoskeletal and Respiratory Specialists & Reimbursement
Like remote patient monitoring, RTM allows for reimbursement for setup, data transmission, and two time-based codes in increments of 2-15 calendar days per month. Specialists utilizing Tenovi medication adherence solutions can benefit from Medicare reimbursement under the following RTM CPT codes.
CPT 98976: Covers remote monitoring of respiratory conditions.
CPT 98977: Applicable for musculoskeletal conditions.
CPT 98980 & 98981: Allow for billing of RTM treatment management services.
Medications Compatible with Tenovi's Pillbox
Tenovi medication solutions include the smart pillbox, which supports a comprehensive range of medications essential for treating musculoskeletal and respiratory conditions by musculoskeletal and respiratory specialists.
Examples include:
- Compatible musculoskeletal medications include: DMARDs, biologic agents, NSAIDs, corticosteroids, muscle relaxants, and bisphosphonates.
- Compatible respiratory Medications include: bronchodilators, inhaled corticosteroids, leukotriene modifiers, antihistamines, mucolytics, and monoclonal antibodies.
For asthma and COPD medication adherence, Tenovi also offers Adherium Hailie® Sensors to track medication usage to reduce the number of asthma and COPD attacks. Specialists can choose from eight next-generation, FDA-cleared sensors covering the most common inhaled medications. Adherium estimates a potential 40% cost reduction (~$1,500) per asthma patient annually, offering a $17 billion savings opportunity in US healthcare.
The PatchRx pill bottle cap offered by Tenovi can be used to monitor critical medication. It is a smart, universally-fitting pill bottle cap that allows patients to track one or two critical medications. It monitors both opening and closing events. With integrated APIs for alerts and reminders, plus visual reminders via the Gateway, PatchRx maximizes reimbursement under CPT 98976, 98977, and 98980 for RTM services.
Learn which musculoskeletal and respiratory medications are compatible with the Tenovi Pillbox. Click below to download the list.
Key Points: RTM & Musculoskeletal and Respiratory Specialists
By addressing specific musculoskeletal and respiratory care needs, Tenovi medication adherence solutions simplify adherence tracking and support specialists in delivering high-quality, patient-centered care. Real-time data collection empowers providers to identify potential gaps in medication adherence and intervene proactively. This not only enhances patient outcomes but also strengthens the provider-patient relationship.
Tenovi’s medication adherence tools reduce the administrative burden of manual adherence tracking while providing actionable insights for continuous care improvement. Musculoskeletal and respiratory specialists managing chronic conditions can easily integrate the Pillbox, Adherium Hailie Sensors, or the PatchRx Pill Bottle PatchCap into their workflows to support better medication management and improved health outcomes.
Book a demo to learn more about our three medication adherence solutions and which is best for your patient population.
