A Primary Care Answer to a Pandemic: Keeping a Population of Patients Safe at Home through Chronic Care Management and Remote Patient Monitoring

Abstract

The pandemic caused by the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) challenged primary care providers (PCPs) to continue to deliver care for their patients, while also remaining financially stable. Most practices have experienced declining revenue due to fewer in-person patient visits. To help offset this and to continue to provide safe patient care, practices have shifted toward using remote options. Chronic Care Management (CCM) and Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) are benefits available to Medicare fee-for-service patients, which allow a medical practice to deliver expanded care and generate much-needed revenue. These services can be delivered by clinical staff called care managers. A top health priority for most seniors is to effectively self-isolate to reduce risk of COVID-19, while maintaining mental and physical health. We developed a Safe at Home program, designed to be run by care managers through CCM and RPM, with the use of a remote monitoring technology. Safe at Home tracks signs and symptoms of COVID-19, mental and physical health, and lifestyle behaviors that can affect immune function. We project that this service can complement regular telehealth PCP visits and deliver population health monitoring services, while generating substantial revenue for the practice.