Telehealth and remote patient monitoring (RPM) are two essential components of today’s healthcare. When used together, these technologies enhance how medical services are delivered by qualified healthcare professionals and received by patients. This article will help you better understand the distinctions between telehealth and RPM. We’ll provide an overview of telehealth and remote patient monitoring, the billing differences, different technologies used, their synergy, and benefits and limitations.
Telehealth and Remote Patient Monitoring: Overview
Telemedicine vs. in-person care has some differences. Telehealth refers to providing medical services and consultations remotely through technology, enabling healthcare professionals to treat patients from a distance. It encompasses various digital communication platforms such as video conferencing, secure messaging, and mobile health applications.
On the other hand, remote patient monitoring is a subset of telehealth that involves continuously collecting patient data from FDA-cleared remote patient monitoring medical devices. RPM allows healthcare providers to monitor patients’ vital signs, symptoms, and health trends in real-time, facilitating proactive interventions and personalized care.
Billing Differences in Telehealth and Remote Patient Monitoring
Telehealth and RPM billing are different. CMS does not consider RPM a telehealth service. Still, billing, insurance companies, Medicare, and Medicaid often cover telehealth services. The billing structure is similar to in-person consultations.
RPM Reimbursement is facilitated through the use of telehealth billing codes. However, as mentioned, the reimbursement landscape for telehealth can vary depending on the region and type of service provided.
Remote Patient Monitoring, a continuous monitoring service, typically involves a separate billing practice using CPT codes. It might include initial setup fees for equipment, followed by monthly data analysis and reporting fees. RPM insurance coverage varies, but some providers are starting to recognize its benefits and offer coverage for specific conditions.
Technologies Used in Telehealth and Remote Patient Monitoring
Telehealth relies on various technologies, such as video conferencing platforms like Zoom or Skype, secure messaging systems for patient-doctor communication, and telemedicine apps for remote diagnosis and treatment. These technologies ensure seamless interactions between healthcare professionals and patients, regardless of their physical locations.
Remote Patient Monitoring leverages various medical devices that collect and transmit patient data to healthcare providers. These devices include wearable sensors, smartwatches, blood pressure monitors, glucose meters, and other IoT-enabled health-tracking tools. The collected data is then transmitted securely to healthcare providers’ systems for analysis and timely intervention.
The Synergy between Telehealth and RPM
Telehealth and remote patient monitoring can harmoniously deliver comprehensive and patient-centric care. While telehealth connects patients and providers for virtual consultations, RPM provides continuous insights into patients’ health statuses. This Telehealth and RPM synergy allows healthcare professionals to make informed decisions, provide timely interventions, and track progress over time.
Benefits and Limitations
Both telehealth and RPM offer numerous benefits. Telehealth eliminates geographical barriers, increasing access to healthcare services, especially in rural and remote areas. It also reduces the risk of exposure to infectious diseases during pandemics. RPM empowers patients to actively participate in their health management actively, leading to better outcomes and early detection of health issues.
However, these technologies have limitations as well. Telehealth and remote patient monitoring are not a substitute for in-person care. In telehealth, the lack of physical examination can limit the accuracy of diagnosis, and not all medical conditions can be treated remotely. RPM requires patient compliance and digital health literacy, which might not be suitable for patients with certain health conditions.
Remote Patient Monitoring Medical Devices
When paired together, telehealth and remote patient monitoring can monitor patients daily for certain health conditions. It can also prevent health complications in patients with chronic diseases and patients who can’t travel easily. Many symptoms and conditions can be tracked through remote patient monitoring, including:
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Weight loss or gain
- Heart Disease
- COPD
- Sleep apnea
- Asthma
- Kidney disease
Many of the devices that patients will use may be familiar to them, including:
- Remote blood pressure monitors
- Remote weight scales
- Remote blood glucose meters
- Remote pulse oximeters
- Remote peak flow meters
- Remote digital thermometers
Other conditions may require more complicated devices that may require patient training, including:
- Apnea monitors
- Sleep monitors
- Breathing apparatuses
- Fetal monitors
- Heart monitors
- Monitors for neurological disease
As the popularity and convenience of telehealth grows, so does remote patient monitoring. More providers are implementing remote patient monitoring for several reasons, including:
- Advanced medical technology
- A growing awareness of telehealth for providers and patients
- The ability to monitor and prevent serious complications in remote locations
Understanding Telehealth and Remote Patient Monitoring
Telehealth and remote patient monitoring are two essential components of modern healthcare, revolutionizing how medical services are delivered and received. Telehealth facilitates convenient consultations, while RPM enables continuous monitoring and personalized care. Together, they promise to improve patient outcomes and enhance the healthcare experience for millions worldwide.
As technology advances, the integration of telehealth and RPM is likely to shape the future of healthcare delivery, offering innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of patients and healthcare providers alike.
Tenovi provides chronic care, telehealth, and remote patient monitoring software and services companies with FDA-cleared RPM devices and customized integrations for real-time access to their patient’s health and billing data. Contact Tenovi today for a free demo and consultation.
