Thread by @SavageLucia

@medcitynews reports that even with the #remote #patient #monitoring (#RPM) codes, reimbursement for #digitalhealth remains a challenge. The article is linked below, but for a deeper dive, read the thread 1/
medcitynews.com/2021/09/remote…

We've knows about this for a long time @omadahealth--really since our founding. We got an #NPI. We billed #claims. We helped get the first ever #CPT code (0488T) for fully virtual care. But there's more to do. 2/

(You can learn about contracting as a #virtualfirst #provider @_DiMeSociety workshop on that very topic this week! Register here:us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regist… ) 3/

Back to #RPM. So, what is missing?
@RobJamHorne and I wrote about this a lot in two pieces in @Health_Affairs. Some high-points follow, with links below. 4/

First, #RPM is only part of the story. A #physician or #NP in an office reviewing data collected remotely is only a small fraction of what #digitalhealth can do. So #RPM codes, while an important step, are not a comprehensive approach to #reimbursement for #digitalhealth 5/

I will be talking about this--what is needed besides #RPM codes--tomorrow during #DTxEast (panel is at 1 pm pdt/4 pm edt) with @noom @transcarent @KaiaHealth @virginpulse. 6/

Check out the panel:

If you cannot make #DTxEast at the last minute, my "to do" list for #digitalhealth reimbursement includes
--figuring out a way to code asynchronous care--separate the total time used to care for someone from he time having to be synchronous, mindful of audit log time stamps; 7/

--a way to code for care outside a building but provided by professionals nonetheless
Truth is, the power of #digital #technology runs horizontally through every #healthcare vertical of #hospitals, #clinics, #labs, #Rx, #devices, #LTSS.
@RobJamHorne and I illustrated it (8/):

You can read the entire article where that illustration is found in @Health_Affairs (9/):
healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hbl…

So, that is the #problemstatement.
What is the solution?
Well, #commericalinsurance already is figuring out how to contract with #virtualfirst #healthcare #providers based on #value and the #RWE that #digitalhealth can document. @CMSGov should (10/)

follow that lead. Its been seven years since @HHS articulated value based goals in 2015. @RobJamHorne and I had some ideas for that, too, in @Health_Affairs in February 2021:
healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hbl… (11/)

There are a ton of really smart, creative and knowledgable people in the space where #digitalhealth meets #reimbursement #health #policy. We can figure this out! (12/end.)