By Jared Lisenby, chief gross sales officer, Azalea Well being.

Telehealth companies have grow to be extra well-liked, notably after the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted its significance as a essential answer for rural well being clinics (RHCs).

RHCs face distinct enterprise challenges, together with serving sufferers at greater danger of persistent diseases, restricted assets, workforce shortages, and geographical isolation. These challenges require progressive options, and telehealth is one such answer.

Often known as telemedicine, telehealth empowers healthcare suppliers to look after sufferers with out an workplace go to, saving money and time and permitting suppliers to see extra sufferers. Care choices require web entry and a pc, pill, or smartphone, together with cellphone or video consultations, safe messaging, electronic mail and file alternate.

Telehealth and the adoption of digital well being data (EHRs) have allowed healthcare to increase past scientific settings into sufferers’ properties.

RPM system use is anticipated to extend

New options and choices make Distant Affected person Monitoring (RPM) potential. This expertise permits suppliers to handle acute and persistent situations, collect important indicators and inform healthcare suppliers a couple of affected person’s progress whereas lowering journey prices and an infection danger.

Doing so permits suppliers to make real-time selections and course-correct care as wanted, probably lowering affected person prices in the long term and main to higher healthcare outcomes.

Distant affected person monitoring is beneficial along with telehealth, notably for sufferers who require constant monitoring for sure well being situations, together with hypertension, diabetes, and coronary heart situations. It could actually additionally assist forestall issues in sufferers who’ve problem touring.

RPM gadgets can embrace meters and screens for glucose, coronary heart charge, and blood oxygen ranges. Sufferers with a few of these persistent situations are often eligible for RPM gadgets and companies.

In line with Insider Intelligence, about 30 million People shall be utilizing one this 12 months.

Regulatory modifications will guarantee continued RPM adoption

Earlier than the COVID-19 Public Well being Emergency (PHE), the Facilities for Medicare & Medicaid Companies (CMS) launched billing codes and prolonged RPM protection. At first of the PHE, CMS launched extra flexibilities and waivers, permitting RHCs to offer telehealth companies and remotely enroll sufferers into care administration packages.

This waiver helped clinics present companies to many extra sufferers all through the pandemic. It alleviated the strain on the healthcare system, permitting clinics and hospitals to concentrate on these needing assist.

Whereas the preliminary waiver expired on the finish of the PHE in Could 2023, CMS made the waiver everlasting beginning in 2024. This new rule and protection enlargement for RPM companies will now enhance entry to distant care packages.

Price —whether or not the platform itself or reimbursements that didn’t cowl your entire go to price — was one of many greatest impediments to telehealth adoption.

In 2024, Medicare will reimburse Federally Certified Well being Facilities (FQHCs), together with RHCs, for RPM and Distant Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM). Suppliers can invoice for 2 RPM companies below the overall care administration code at $71.68 per thirty days per affected person.

Whereas affected person quotas are usually not a selected requirement, RHCs should meet sure productiveness requirements as a part of their insurance policies and procedures. RHCs can profit from a complete EHR platform to make sure compliance with all necessities.

CMS has additionally made important progress in distinguishing Continual Care Administration (CCM) companies, which go hand in hand with RPM.

Integrating RPM with CCM packages, whether or not new or present, addresses billing’s limitations and promotes affected person engagement.

RHCs and RPM can collaborate to enhance the affected person expertise and maximize advantages. This integration will be executed with present work and will increase annual income, making it possible for RHCs.

The platform is essential to RPM’s success

Whereas RPM has already grown in reputation, it’ll proceed to achieve prominence this 12 months. The fee-effectiveness of RPM varies relying on the kind of monitoring, the illness being monitored, and the monitoring setting.

Such a platform allows RHCs to doc all necessities and offers precious insights by means of analytics for operational excellence. Suppliers should course of paperwork accurately and submit well timed claims, as there’s a danger of dropping income. As well as, payers and insurance coverage firms have strict necessities relating to claims submission deadlines.

It additionally empowers them to handle their income correctly.

The state of affairs could seem complicated from a biller’s perspective, however it’s easy. If claims don’t exit on time, suppliers danger dropping income, making paperwork processing a vital matter for a lot of. Payers and insurance coverage firms even have strict necessities and deadlines for declare submissions.

Fashionable EHR methods accumulate information from RPM gadgets and mechanically replace the affected person’s chart. Analytics will then alert clinicians and implement the very best care plans for every affected person.

The precise instruments and expertise empower suppliers to beat challenges in retaining their doorways open, working on tight margins, and barely protecting prices. With expertise, suppliers can ship the subsequent stage of affected person care, whether or not main city suppliers or rural clinics centered on underserved populations.