Ep. 78: What the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule means for RPM, with Lucienne Marie Ide, M.D., Ph.D.

Lucienne Marie Ide, M.D., Ph.D., founder and CEO of Rimidi, joins the show to discuss the proposed 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and its impact on remote patient monitoring (RPM) programs.
Ide shares insights on new billing codes, increased flexibility for physicians, the role of artificial intelligence (AI) and the evolving integration of RPM into standard health care practice.

Read her full analysis of changes coming to RPM in the proposed 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule: "Big Changes Outlined for Remote Patient Monitoring in the Proposed 2026 Physician Fee Schedule."

Also, don't miss our previous episodes on what's broken in health care, what AI can (and can't) do for prior authorizations, 60 years of Medicare and physician struggles.

Music Credits:
Paper Cranes by Buurd - stock.adobe.com
Relaxing Lounge by Classy Call me Man - stock.adobe.com
A Textbook Example by Skip Peck - stock.adobe.com

Editor's note: Episode timestamps and transcript produced using AI tools.

Introduction to the Episode (00:00:00) Dr. Ide hopes RPM becomes a standard part of health care, not just an innovative modality.

Podcast Introduction and Overview (00:00:25) Host Austin Littrell introduces the episode, guests, and the focus on RPM and Medicare fee schedule changes.

Guest Introduction (00:01:19) Richard Payerchin introduces Dr. Lucienne Ide and Rimidi's focus on RPM and chronic condition management.

State of Remote Patient Monitoring (00:02:05) Dr. Ide discusses the maturity and mainstream adoption of RPM in the US health care system.

Defining RPM and RTM (00:02:22) Clarification of remote physiologic monitoring vs. remote therapeutic monitoring and their respective focuses.

Current and Proposed RPM Billing Codes (00:03:19) Explanation of code 99454, current requirements, and proposed changes for more flexible billing.

Proposed Time-Based Codes for RPM (00:04:58) Discussion of new codes allowing billing in 10-minute increments, increasing flexibility for practices.

Importance of Flexibility in RPM (00:05:59) How new codes allow for clinical judgment and tailored interventions for different patient needs.

Financial Sustainability and Physician Appeal (00:07:42) How added flexibility reduces financial risk and may encourage more physicians to adopt RPM.

Physician Reimbursement Rates for RPM (00:09:35) CMS plans to hold RPM reimbursement rates steady for 2026, with possible overall rate increases.

Documentation and Audits in RPM (00:11:23) Importance of documentation for demonstrating patient benefit, compliance, and supporting continued reimbursement.

Addressing Fraud, Waste, and Abuse (00:13:12) Welcoming scrutiny to ensure appropriate use of RPM and prevent bad actors from exploiting the system.

Evidence and Research on RPM Outcomes (00:14:10) Discussion of accumulating evidence for RPM’s benefits and the need for more granular data on patient subgroups.

AI and the Future of RPM (00:15:28) Potential for AI to improve efficiency in RPM, and implications for physician compensation and CPT codes.

Wearables and Consumer Health Devices (00:17:52) Exploring the overlap between consumer wearables and formal RPM, and current limitations in mainstream medicine.

Cybersecurity and Data Privacy in RPM (00:20:34) Growing importance of cybersecurity as RPM integrates with EHRs and the need for high standards in data protection.

Industry Response to Proposed RPM Changes (00:22:31) Little protest to proposed RPM code changes; focus on reimbursement rates and public comment period.

Advice for Primary Care Physicians (00:24:13) Encouragement for physicians to view RPM as standard care, benefiting both patients and practice finances.

Patient Response and Selection for RPM (00:25:35) Importance of patient selection, communication of benefits, and addressing copay concerns for successful RPM adoption.

Episode Conclusion (00:27:33) Closing remarks, appreciation for the conversation, and episode wrap-up.

Podcast Outro and Subscription Information (00:28:00) Host thanks listeners, provides subscription info, and credits the production team.