A new study from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health found that primary care practices in the U.S. using remote patient monitoring (RPM) saw a 20% increase in Medicare revenue within two years, compared with those that did not adopt the technology.
Published in Health Affairs, the study examined RPM’s operational impact, not just patient outcomes. Researchers analyzed national Medicare data from 754 primary care practices that began billing for Medicare’s RPM codes between 2019 and 2021.
Most of the additional revenue came directly from RPM-related billing, while roughly a quarter resulted from increased outpatient visits and care management services. The findings suggest that digital monitoring not only boosted income but also expanded opportunities for proactive patient care.
“RPM services are often touted as a way to improve patient care and increase revenue, but that’s not guaranteed,” Dr. Mitchell Tang, assistant professor of Health Policy and Management at Columbia, said. Yet findings show that both goals can be achieved simultaneously when implemented effectively.
Expanding capacity without sacrificing access
One of the study’s most striking findings challenges a long-held fear: that implementing RPM might stretch staff too thin and reduce appointment availability for other patients.
Instead, practices that adopted RPM actually saw more patients overall, particularly those with complex and chronic conditions, including many non-white and dually eligible Medicare and Medicaid patients.
“There was concern that the added time and resources to provide RPM to some patients would come at a cost as other patients in the practice might struggle to get care,” Tang said. In reality, practices using RPM became more efficient and accessible.
RPM uses connected devices such as Bluetooth-enabled blood pressure cuffs and glucose monitors to transmit patients’ physiologic data to clinical teams in real time. The technology enables clinicians to adjust treatments proactively, reducing emergency visits and enhancing long-term outcomes.
“In a time when many call for a strengthening of primary care, our study offers cautious optimism,” Dr. Ariel Stern, co-author and professor of Digital Health Economics and Policy at the University of Potsdam, said. “Technologies like RPM can make primary care more accessible, proactive, and patient-centered.”
Outsourcing, innovation fuel RPM growth
The rapid rise of RPM has also driven demand in the healthcare outsourcing sector, where specialized service providers manage device setup, data tracking, and patient engagement. This model helps clinics scale programs without overwhelming in-house staff.
Meanwhile, the global remote patient monitoring market is projected to double from $27.7 billion in 2024 to $56.9 billion by 2030, driven by the adoption of telehealth, the management of chronic diseases, and the use of AI-powered automation.
However, the authors caution that unchecked RPM expansion could lead to inflated Medicare costs, emphasizing the need for evidence-based reimbursement rules to ensure RPM remains effective, equitable, and financially sustainable.
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Macayan, D. (2025, November 8). Remote patient monitoring boosts revenue and care capacity: study. Outsource Accelerator. Retrieved from https://news.outsourceaccelerator.com/rpm-revenue-care-capacity/
