A coalition of more than 200 healthcare organizations, including over 30 health systems, is asking CMS to reconsider its proposed remote patient monitoring policies in the 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule.
In an August 24 letter to CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, the coalition warned that finalizing the proposals as written would immediately disrupt care for roughly 1 million Medicare beneficiaries who depend on remote monitoring to manage chronic conditions and stay connected to their care teams. The group argued that limiting access to these services would push Medicare in the wrong direction, away from prevention and early intervention and back toward costlier emergency visits, hospital stays, and institutional care, adding that a policy meant to tighten oversight shouldn’t end up raising costs for taxpayers.
The coalition is asking Oz to hold off on finalizing the remote physiologic monitoring (RPM) and remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM) provisions in the proposed rule.
What CMS is proposing
The proposed rule would end Medicare payment for remote monitoring services delivered by clinical staff employed by third-party vendors. Going forward, RPM and RTM services would need to be furnished by employees of the billing practitioner or practice itself, cutting out arrangements where practices contract with outside remote monitoring companies to provide the clinical staff.
Staff wouldn’t be required to work on-site at the practice, but they would need to be direct employees operating under the billing practitioner’s general supervision, rather than contracted through a third party.
If finalized, the restriction would take effect January 1, 2027. The public comment period closes September 14.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What’s the difference between RPM and RTM?
Remote physiologic monitoring (RPM) tracks physiologic data like blood pressure, weight, or glucose levels. Remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM) tracks non-physiologic data, such as medication adherence or musculoskeletal and respiratory therapy response. Both are billed under specific CPT codes in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule.
2. Why does CMS want to restrict third-party staffing for RPM/RTM?
CMS has framed the proposal as aprogram integrity measure, aiming to tighten oversight of who is actually delivering monitoring services billed to Medicare. Critics argue the restriction goes further than necessary and could cut off legitimate monitoring arrangements that many practices rely on.
3. Who would be affected if this rule is finalized as proposed?
Practices that currently contract with third-party remote monitoring vendors to supply clinical staff would need to shift to direct employment models or stop billing for those services. The coalition estimates around 1 million Medicare beneficiaries currently receiving RPM or RTM services could see disruptions in their care.
4. What is the coalition asking CMS to do?
The letter doesn’t ask CMS to abandon the RPM/RTM provisions outright. It asks the agency to delay finalizing them, giving stakeholders more time to work through the operational and access concerns before the policy takes effect.
5. What’s the timeline for this proposed rule?
The restriction, iffinalized, would take effect January 1, 2027. The public comment period on the 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule closes September 14, giving organizations a narrow window to submit formal feedback.
