In today’s fast-evolving healthcare landscape, remote patient monitoring (RPM) is redefining patient care. Yet, as these technologies become increasingly integrated into patients’ daily lives, concerns about privacy and security are intensifying. At CTeL’s third annual RPM conference, experts Anura Fernando, Global Head of Medical Device Security at UL Solutions, and Dr. Anthony Magit, Associate Chief Medical Officer at Rady Children’s Hospital, provided crucial insights into the risks and solutions for maintaining privacy in RPM. Their discussion underscored the need for not just secure data, but also secure environments, and offered healthcare providers a roadmap to safeguarding patient privacy in this new era.

As telehealth and AI technologies continue to transform healthcare delivery, remote patient monitoring (RPM) stands out for its potential to improve patient outcomes. But with innovation comes a growing list of compliance challenges. At the Center for Telehealth and e-Health Law (CTeL)’s third annual Remote Patient Monitoring Conference, legal expert Adam Solander tackled the thorny issues of data privacy, informed consent, and compliance as they pertain to RPM systems.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released its final rule for the 2025 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and the Medicare Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) payment systems, highlighting pivotal telehealth advancements that aim to transform healthcare delivery. The rule introduces changes impacting access to care for Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries, particularly those in underserved areas or requiring specialized services. Here’s an overview of the telehealth-focused updates that reflect CMS’s commitment to expanding healthcare accessibility and aligning policies across diverse care settings.

The latest session hosted by CTeL on "Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) and Reimbursement: Navigating the Financial Landscape" offered significant insights into policy updates, financial challenges, and future regulatory actions impacting RPM. Featuring Zach Hochstetler, Vice President of Coding and Payment at the American Medical Association (AMA), the discussion provided a close look at recent changes in RPM protocols and reimbursement structures, with important implications for healthcare providers and payers navigating this evolving landscape.

The Center for Telehealth and e-Health Law (CTeL) gathered a diverse audience of healthcare leaders, policymakers, and technology experts for its Third Annual Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) Summit. One of this years featured sessions, "Data-Driven Healthcare, Clinical Outcomes, and Financial Benefits," focused on leveraging RPM and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance patient outcomes and streamline healthcare costs. In a dynamic session featuring Dr. David Bates, Medical Director of Clinical and Quality Analysis at Mass General Brigham, and Dr. Kapil Parakh, Senior Medical Lead at Google, the discussion centered on RPM’s evolving role in healthcare, actionable strategies for implementation, and practical policy recommendations. 

Last week, CTeL (Center for Telehealth and e-Health Law) hosted a transformative discussion on AI and Machine Learning (ML) integration in Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) at its Third Annual Virtual RPM Summit. This year’s session titled "AI and Machine Learning in Remote Patient Monitoring" brought together Dr. Ravi Parikh, medical oncologist at Emory University, and Dr. Fei Wang, professor and director of AI for Digital Health at Weill Cornell Medicine. Both experts shared actionable insights on the opportunities, challenges, and urgent need for standardized practices in AI-driven RPM.

This year’s Third Annual Virtual Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) Summit, hosted by the Center for Telehealth and e-Health Law (CTeL) on November 1, 2024, brought together leaders from legislative offices, healthcare, and technology sectors to tackle the pressing question: How can the U.S. improve access to healthcare through remote patient monitoring and digital health solutions? At the heart of the summit was the session “Congressional Insights on Remote Monitoring Legislation,” featuring legislative aides Tucker Williamson, representing Rep. Neil Dunn (R-FL), and Josh Joffe, representing Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL). Together, they unpacked the current policy landscape and legislative priorities essential to advancing RPM in an increasingly digital healthcare ecosystem.

November 1, 2024 – In a major policy update, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued the final rule for the Calendar Year (CY) 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS), effective January 1, 2025. This new rule outlines a sweeping set of changes aimed at creating a more equitable, accessible, and innovative healthcare system. Key modifications focus on telehealth services, expanding access for beneficiaries while adjusting certain policies established during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE).

Could you spot the signs of a stroke if they appeared right in front of you? Most people think of strokes as causing loss of speech or balance, but the earliest symptoms can be much more subtle—and spotting them quickly can save lives. Thanks to an inspiring father-son duo, Dr. Rajiv Narula and his 5-year-old son, Ayan, the importance of early stroke detection is now accessible to even the youngest among us, empowering kids to help recognize stroke signs in their own families.

The American Medical Association (AMA) recently announced a significant change to its billing policy for Remote Physiologic Monitoring (RPM). Starting in January 2026, the AMA will eliminate the requirement for patients to transmit RPM data for 16 out of 30 days to qualify for provider reimbursement. This decision removes a barrier that has hindered RPM’s practical application and aligns more closely with how providers and patients actually use RPM technology.

Telehealth and digital health has become a crucial component of modern healthcare, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, which necessitated rapid adaptation to virtual care. Both the Trump administration and a potential Harris administration have taken steps to advance telehealth, albeit through differing strategies.

Advocating for balanced AI regulations in healthcare is critical to ensuring that we unlock the full potential of this transformative technology. Artificial intelligence (AI) offers unparalleled opportunities to improve patient outcomes, increase access to care, and reduce healthcare costs, particularly in telehealth services. From enhancing diagnostic accuracy to streamlining administrative tasks, AI can enable healthcare providers to deliver faster, more personalized, and more efficient care. 

U.S. Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks, alongside 232 bipartisan House members, recently spearheaded a call to action, urging House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) to address the imminent 2.8% reduction in reimbursement rates for physicians participating in Medicare. The proposed cuts, scheduled to take effect in January 2025 under the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) CY2025 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS), threaten not only the financial stability of healthcare providers but also patient access to essential services, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into healthcare has presented both exciting opportunities and serious challenges. AI-driven tools are increasingly being used to assist in everything from diagnostics to clinical decision-making, with the potential to revolutionize patient care. However, a recent study published in JAMA underscores the critical importance of continuous AI evaluation. While AI has demonstrated its ability to streamline workflows and improve outcomes, the study highlights the necessity of regularly reassessing AI systems to ensure their long-term efficacy, safety, and fairness.

In a continued effort to safeguard patient access to essential telemedicine services, a bipartisan group of congressional leaders, led by Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Congressman Buddy Carter (R-GA), has sent a letter urging the DEA to extend telemedicine prescribing flexibilities beyond the December 31, 2024 deadline. These flexibilities were first introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, enabling healthcare providers to prescribe controlled substances remotely, significantly improving access to care for patients who face barriers to in-person visits.

On October 10th, the world comes together to recognize World Mental Health Day, a global initiative led by the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness of mental health issues and mobilize efforts in support of mental well-being. This year's theme focuses on “Mental Health for All: Greater Access, Greater Care,” shining a spotlight on the critical need for improved mental health services globally.

As we celebrate World Mental Health Day on October 10th, it’s essential to highlight the impact of telehealth on mental health care access, especially as temporary waivers that expanded telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic are set to expire. Telehealth played a critical role in increasing access to care, especially for individuals who faced barriers to in-person visits. However, the expiration of these waivers could drastically reduce access to life-saving mental health services, leading to severe consequences for patients across the country.

In the face of these challenges, telehealth has emerged as a critical tool in maintaining access to healthcare, even when patients are unable to physically visit a healthcare provider. This is particularly true in the realm of mental health care, where continued access to therapeutic services, support, and even medications can be lifesaving.

Each year on October 10th, the global community observes World Mental Health Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness and driving efforts to improve mental health care worldwide. In 2024, the importance of mental health services is more critical than ever, especially as we confront the ongoing challenges of access to care. For millions of Americans, telehealth has become a lifeline—especially for those seeking therapy and essential medications like buprenorphine for opioid use disorder. However, as we mark this important day, looming changes to telehealth regulations threaten to dismantle the progress made during the pandemic.

As we approach the end of 2024, a ticking clock threatens the healthcare access of millions of Americans. Unless swift action is taken, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) temporary telehealth flexibilities for prescribing controlled substances will expire at the end of this year. This change would have a profound and negative impact on patients who have come to rely on telemedicine for critical treatments, including medications for chronic pain, mental health, and substance use disorders.

In response to this impending crisis, the Center for Telehealth & e-Health Law (CTeL) and other healthcare organizations have called on Congress to act, sending a letter to the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The message is clear: without legislative intervention, millions of patients could lose access to essential medications.