A Remote Patient Monitoring program utilizing Smart Meter’s Cellular-Connected RPM devices delivers measurable clinical outcomes and sets the stage for expanded collaboration to serve FQHCs across the United States.

Tampa, Fla. and San Juan, Puerto Rico — BUSINESS WIRE — Smart Meter, the number one supplier of technology and services for remote patient monitoring, and digiiMED, a leader in technology-enabled clinical services for value-based care, today announced the results of a high-impact hypertension management pilot conducted across three Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in Puerto Rico. digiiMED also announced plans to expand their offering into the continental United States, bringing their RPM and clinical services model, powered by Smart Meter cellular devices to FQHCs and underserved patient populations nationwide.

Funded by the Puerto Rico Primary Care Association (PRPCA), the program was implemented between May and September 2025. digiiMED was awarded the initiative through a competitive RFP process, and provided bilingual, culturally-competent clinical care management, project management, data analysis, and Smart Meter’s iBloodPressure® cellular-enabled monitoring devices.

The pilot demonstrates the measurable impact of combining cellular-connected RPM technology with proactive clinical engagement to improve chronic disease outcomes in underserved populations and establishes a blueprint for broader U.S. deployment.

Strong Enrollment, Engagement, and Data Capture

The program enrolled 360 patients with uncontrolled hypertension, identified based on their most recently documented blood pressure readings. The average age of patients in the program was 66, reflecting a high-risk population with significant need for ongoing monitoring and intervention.

Enrollment was completed by July 2025, and patient engagement remained strong throughout the pilot:

• 333 patients actively transmitted readings
• Patients averaged 14 readings per patient per month
• More than 23,000 blood pressure readings were collected
• Data seamlessly integrated into patient charts within their Electronic Health Record (EHR) platform following RPM program activation

This consistent flow of actionable data enabled care teams to intervene earlier, adjust treatment plans, and maintain continuous visibility into patient status outside the clinic.

Clinically Meaningful Outcomes Achieved

A retrospective analysis of 179 patients meeting study criteria revealed significant improvements in blood pressure control and overall hypertension management:

• 30% achieved clinically meaningful improvement
• 54% of patients with uncontrolled hypertension reached blood pressure control by the end of the program

The program’s primary objective was to support blood pressure control aligned with HRSA Uniform Data System (UDS) Blood Pressure Control metrics, a key quality benchmark for FQHCs. Results underscore RPM’s effectiveness as a scalable solution for improving chronic disease outcomes while supporting regulatory reporting and value-based care performance.

“This program validates what is possible when reliable, always-connected technology is paired with proactive, clinical engagement,” said Casey Pittock, CEO of Smart Meter. “We are excited to support digiiMED’s expansion into the U.S. market and to bring this proven model to FQHCs nationwide that are seeking scalable ways to improve hypertension control, meet quality metrics, and enhance patient access to care.”

Expansion into the U.S. FQHC Market

Building on the success of the Puerto Rico pilot, digiiMED is formalizing a strategic expansion into the broader U.S. market, with an initial focus on FQHCs and other safety-net providers managing high rates of uncontrolled chronic disease.

digiiMED plans to introduce its bilingual, culturally-competent, clinically-integrated RPM services model to U.S.-based health centers, leveraging Smart Meter’s fully cellular device ecosystem and established national distribution footprint.

“The results in Puerto Rico demonstrate both clinical impact and operational scalability,” said José Alvarez, CEO of digiiMED. “As we expand into the United States, our goal is to help more FQHCs and primary care organizations improve outcomes for high-risk populations through a seamless combination of connected devices, bilingual clinical support, and actionable data.”

A Scalable Model for Value-Based Care

The pilot reinforces remote patient monitoring as a powerful tool for FQHCs and primary care organizations seeking to improve quality scores, increase patient engagement, and succeed under value-based reimbursement models.

With proven results, strong patient adherence, and seamless EHR integration, the Smart Meter–digiiMED model offers a scalable pathway to better chronic disease management across diverse and underserved populations throughout the United States.

About Smart Meter

Since 2016, customers have hired Smart Meter to help solve one of healthcare’s most critical challenges: remotely capturing and delivering accurate patient vitals securely and reliably every time. Today, Smart Meter is the number one trusted supplier of cellular-enabled remote patient monitoring solutions, delivering reliable, real-time patient data to healthcare providers, payers, and technology partners. With millions of vitals transmitted via its exclusive private data network for RPM, Smart Meter empowers organizations to securely improve patient outcomes, reduce hospitalizations, and optimize reimbursement. For more information, visit SmartMeterRPM.com. Attending HIMSS in Las Vegas? Stop by the Smart Meter booth (#5244) to learn more!

About digiiMED

digiiMED LLC is a digital health services and consulting company focused on improving care for patients with chronic conditions. Through the use of digital devices, data-driven information systems, and dedicated clinical personnel, digiiMED ensures continuity of care and enables early detection of health risks. digiiMED empowers healthcare professionals with timely biometric and qualitative data to support informed clinical decision-making, while equipping patients with education, resources, and improved access to clinical services. digiiMED’s model promotes timely intervention, reduces the need for high-cost acute care, and fosters a culture centered on prevention. By aligning technology, clinical oversight, and patient engagement, digiiMED strives to deliver better health outcomes and positively impact quality of life of Spanish-speaking patient populations across the United States and its territories. For more information, visit https://www.digiimed.com/.

Media Contacts:

Smart Meter: Molly McNamee, Senior Marketing Manager, molly.mcnamee@iglucose.com

digiiMED: Carlos Casals, Director of Operations, carlos@digiimed.com

 

TAMPA, FL — JANUARY 20, 2026 - BUSINESS WIRE — As demand accelerates for simpler, more reliable remote patient monitoring solutions, Smart Meter, the leading supplier of cellular-enabled Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) devices, data, and services, today announced the launch of iGlucose® Touch, a next-generation blood glucose monitoring system engineered to modernize glucose testing while delivering dependable, real-time data to care teams.

Purpose-built for RPM, iGlucose Touch addresses long-standing challenges in glucose monitoring by pairing a bright, intuitive touchscreen with Smart Meter’s proprietary cellular connectivity. With every test, accurate blood glucose results are automatically and securely transmitted through Smart Meter’s Private Data Network directly to customers’ RPM platform of choice, eliminating the need for Bluetooth pairing, wifi, apps, and hubs altogether. When combined with Smart Meter’s algorithm-driven direct-to-home auto test strip fulfillment program, patients experience a truly seamless, low-friction experience from testing to care.

“iGlucose Touch represents an important step forward in giving providers and patients more choice in how glucose is monitored,” said Casey Pittock, CEO at Smart Meter. “For many patients, a connected blood glucose meter remains the most practical, affordable, and accurate option. iGlucose Touch modernizes the BGM experience while preserving the simplicity patients and clinicians trust.”

Designed for Simplicity, Built for Reliability

At the center of iGlucose Touch is a responsive 2.8-inch color touchscreen, replacing traditional multi-button navigation with a clean, modern interface designed for ease of use across diverse patient populations. The system supports automatic strip coding, a fast 5-second test time, and memory storage for up to 1,000 readings with date and time stamps. Meal markers and notes can be added to each result, giving care teams richer context when reviewing patient data.

To ensure consistent performance regardless of location, iGlucose Touch uses advanced multicarrier SIM technology, automatically connecting to the strongest available cellular network in the area. This ensures critical readings are transmitted consistently, securely, and without patient intervention, even across varying geographies and coverage conditions, helping to improve health equity and access to care.

High Accuracy You Can Trust

iGlucose Touch delivers clinically reliable performance, with results aligned to laboratory standards. In fingertip testing, 100% of test results were within FDA guidelines. This high level of accuracy supports confident clinical decision-making and sustained patient engagement. iGlucose Touch test strips are inserted horizontally, allowing the blood sample to travel a shorter distance to the sensor module, helping deliver more accurate readings than meters with vertical strip insertion. Each iGlucose Touch device is backed by a 5-year warranty.

Expanding Options for Glucose Monitoring

While continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) play an important role for many patients, they are not the right fit for everyone. Cost, wearability preferences, clinical eligibility, and workflow considerations continue to limit broader adoption. Recent U.S. data show that CGM use remains limited outside of type 1 diabetes specialty populations, often well below 20% of adults with diabetes. Notably, only about 16% of U.S. adults with type 2 diabetes currently use CGM technology, underscoring that broader type 2 populations, particularly those not on intensive insulin regimens, remain underrepresented¹.

iGlucose Touch reinforces the value of connected blood glucose monitoring (BGM) as a proven, accessible option, especially for patients who benefit from simple, on-demand testing without sensors or wearables. It gives providers the flexibility to personalize glucose monitoring strategies while maintaining consistent, real-time data flow across RPM programs.

Seamless Integration into the Smart Meter Cellular RPM™ Ecosystem

iGlucose Touch integrates seamlessly into Smart Meter’s end-to-end Cellular RPM ecosystem, which includes multicarrier SIM devices, platform reliability, access to onboarding and patient engagement services, and connection through the only trusted Private Data Network for RPM in the U.S. This unified approach reduces patient friction, improves adherence, and enables scalable, sustainable RPM programs.

For more information on iGlucose Touch, visit SmartMeterRPM.com/iGlucoseTouch.

About Smart Meter
Since 2016, customers have hired Smart Meter to help solve one of healthcare’s most critical challenges: getting accurate patient vitals to where they need to go securely and reliably every time. Today, Smart Meter is the number one trusted supplier of cellular-enabled remote patient monitoring solutions, delivering reliable, real-time patient data to healthcare providers, payers, and technology partners. With millions of vitals transmitted via its exclusive private data network for RPM, Smart Meter empowers organizations to securely improve patient outcomes, reduce hospitalizations, and optimize reimbursement. For more information, visit SmartMeterRPM.com.

Media Contact:
Erin Wojciechowski
Content Marketing Manager

erin.wojciechowski@iglucose.com
813-773-4080

 

Sources:

1 Littrell, Austin. “The State of Type 2 Diabetes Care in 2025.” Medical Economics, 23 June 2025, https://www.medicaleconomics.com/view/the-state-of-type-2-diabetes-care-in-2025. Accessed 30 Dec. 2025.

 

TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Smart Meter, the leader in cellular-enabled remote patient monitoring (RPM) solutions, is proud to announce the launch of the first handheld, fully cellular-enabled thermometer. Designed to capture and transmit temperature data in real time, it works directly over cellular networks, with no need for a hub, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth. This breakthrough makes remote patient monitoring faster, simpler, and more reliable for both providers and patients.

The new device is called iDigiTemp and it seamlessly integrates with Smart Meter’s platform, enabling instant transmission of accurate temperature readings via a secure cellular network. No hub, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or app pairing required. This breakthrough empowers healthcare providers to monitor patients’ health status remotely with ease and reliability.

“This marks a defining moment for Remote Patient Monitoring,” said Casey Pittock, CEO of Smart Meter. “As RPM moves from early adoption to mainstream healthcare, connectivity and reliability are critical. Our private data network ensures every reading, including temperature with iDigiTemp, is transmitted securely and in real time, without depending on patient Wi-Fi or smartphone access. Temperature is a key vital sign that can reveal early changes in a patient’s health, and now, with iDigiTemp, clinicians can act faster and more confidently than ever before.”

Key Features of iDigiTemp:

• Fast One-Touch Results: Delivers an accurate temperature reading in just one second, with a single press of a button.
• Versatile Measurement Modes: Easily switch between forehead and ear measurements for adaptable, patient-friendly use.
• Designed for Every Patient: Safe, comfortable, and effective for patients from age 1 to adult.
• Powered by Smart Meter’s Private Data Network: True cellular connectivity ensures seamless transmission without reliance on Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
• Always Connected: Built-in multi-carrier SIM automatically connects to the strongest available network for reliable performance anywhere.
• Real-Time Clinical Insights: Instantly transmits temperature data to care teams through Smart Meter’s secure RPM platform.
• Intuitive, Handheld Design: Lightweight and ergonomic for effortless daily use in home or clinical settings.
• Ready Out of the Box: No hub, no apps, pairing, or setup required; simply power on, take a reading, and the data flows automatically.

This innovation joins Smart Meter’s suite of cellular-connected devices, including blood pressure monitors, glucose meters, pulse oximeters, and weight scales, and ambient radar sensors used by over 300,000 patients across the U.S.

Transforming Care, One Reading at a Time

Smart Meter’s iDigiTemp cellular thermometer is poised to enhance chronic care management, post-acute recovery, and infectious disease monitoring, giving providers a powerful tool to detect fevers and intervene early.

Expanding Opportunities Ahead

New RPM CPT codes are finalized for 2026. As these codes continue to evolve to reflect the growing role of connected care, temperature monitoring is expected to become an increasingly valuable component of comprehensive RPM programs. These new codes reduce required reading days and lower clinical time thresholds to qualify for reimbursement, creating expanded opportunities for providers. iDigiTemp positions providers to take advantage of these reimbursement opportunities while improving patient engagement, safety, and outcomes, solidifying Smart Meter’s leadership as RPM moves fully into mainstream healthcare.

Preorders for iDigiTemp are being accepted now. Customer shipments begin in January.

For more information, visit SmartMeterRPM.com/iDigiTemp

About Smart Meter

Smart Meter is the trusted supplier of cellular-enabled remote patient monitoring solutions, delivering reliable, real-time patient data to healthcare providers, payers, and technology partners. With millions of vitals transmitted via its exclusive private data network for RPM, Smart Meter empowers organizations to securely improve patient outcomes, reduce hospitalizations, and optimize reimbursement. For more information, visit SmartMeterRPM.com.

TAMPA, Fla. — BUSINESS WIRE — December 11, 2025 — Smart Meter, the leader in Cellular RPM™ and the nation’s most trusted source of patient-generated vital health data, announced exceptional momentum in its integration and partnership with eClinicalWorks, one of the largest AI-powered ambulatory EHR platforms in the country. So far in 2025, the partnership has driven a 107% year-over-year increase in active Smart Meter devices used by eClinicalWorks (eCW) providers — now surpassing 25,000 active devices in the market.

This dramatic growth reflects the partnership’s shared mission: to simplify remote patient monitoring (RPM) for providers and deliver life-changing, real-time insights for the 133 million Americans living with chronic disease.

A Seamless, Scalable, High-Impact RPM Experience

Smart Meter’s Cellular RPM™ solution gives more than 180,000 eClinicalWorks providers the ability to seamlessly enroll patients, capture vitals, and monitor chronic conditions directly within the eClinicalWorks RPM module. The integration delivers secure, reliable, real-time vital sign data into the patient record, including blood pressure, blood glucose, weight, oxygen saturation, and heart rate.

The result is a frictionless, scalable RPM experience that eliminates the Bluetooth® pairing issues and connectivity failures that have historically hindered provider adoption.

“eClinicalWorks approached us to help solve the major problems their providers were facing with Bluetooth® RPM devices and hubs,” said Casey Pittock, Chief Executive Officer of Smart Meter. “Our Cellular RPM ecosystem eliminates complexity. Providers get high-quality, patient-friendly devices, secure and reliable data, and a seamless experience inside the EHR they use every day.”

Patients Want Easier Ways to Stay Connected — And This Partnership Delivers

Studies show that 71% of people with diabetes believe remote patient monitoring would help them better manage their condition between visits—and 62% would test more often if they knew results were sent automatically to their provider. Cellular-enabled devices remove barriers by requiring no apps, no Wi-Fi, and no technical setup.

The Smart Meter–eClinicalWorks partnership makes that frictionless experience available at scale, helping providers:

• Improve adherence and patient engagement
• Deliver more proactive, preventative care
• Close care gaps between office visits
• Support better clinical decision-making
• Drive RPM program reimbursement with reliable data capture

“Our partnership with Smart Meter strengthens the work we are doing to redefine connected care through the AI-powered eClinicalWorks EHR, which is helping practices deliver more proactive, data-driven care to patients wherever they are,” said Girish Navani, Chief Executive Officer and cofounder of eClinicalWorks. “By combining reliable cellular RPM data with the eClinicalWorks AI-powered Rural Health Platform, which includes intelligent workflows across chronic care management, care coordination, and population health, we’re equipping providers with the tools they need to improve outcomes for all practices, reach underserved communities, and accelerate their shift toward value-based care.”

Built for Security, Built for Healthcare

Smart Meter’s ecosystem remains the only fully integrated, cellular-based RPM platform with SOC 2 Type II and HIPAA certifications, supported by a purpose-built Private Data Network created in partnership with AT&T. FDA-cleared devices with multi-carrier sim technology for maximum geographic coverage transmit data exclusively through this secure network, ensuring uncompromising protection of patient information from end to end.

A Partnership Poised for Continued Growth

With adoption surging in 2025 and thousands of new patients activating every month, the Smart Meter–eClinicalWorks partnership is riding a wave of momentum — and the timing could not be better. Beginning January 1, 2026, key updates to RPM reimbursement make remote monitoring even more flexible and financially viable, signaling a major shift toward RPM going mainstream. Under the new 2026 Physician Fee Schedule for Medicare, CMS finalized two pivotal codes: CPT 99445, which reimburses for 2–15 days of physiologic data transmission, and CPT 99470, which covers the first 10 minutes of RPM clinical review and interactive communication.

These additions break down long-standing barriers: no longer must providers wait for 16 days of patient data just to bill, and shorter, more clinically meaningful touchpoints are now billable — whether it’s a post-discharge check-in, a medication titration period, or a brief but vital care-management call.

For eClinicalWorks providers using Smart Meter’s cellular-enabled RPM devices, these CPT changes unlock a broader swath of patient populations, including those with intermittent or transitional needs. The result? More patients qualify. More interactions are reimbursable. And the financial model supports scalable, value-based care at scale.

As RPM becomes more accessible and better aligned with real-world clinical use cases, the Smart Meter–eClinicalWorks integration stands at the forefront of the digital health transformation. Together, both organizations are not just scaling device deployment — they’re helping to make continuous, connected care the new standard.

About Smart Meter

Smart Meter is the trusted supplier of cellular-enabled remote patient monitoring solutions, delivering reliable, real-time patient data to healthcare providers, payers, and technology partners. With millions of vitals transmitted via its exclusive private data network for RPM, Smart Meter empowers organizations to securely improve patient outcomes, reduce hospitalizations, and optimize reimbursement. For more information, visit SmartMeterRPM.com.

About eClinicalWorks

eClinicalWorks was founded in 1999 to help digitize paper charts for ambulatory practices. Today, eClinicalWorks leads the nation in innovation, offering cloud-based solutions for Electronic Health Records and Practice Management. The company supports ambulatory practices, specialists, health centers, urgent care facilities, and hospital systems to manage their revenue cycle, patient relationships, and Population Health initiatives. A large network of over 180,000 providers and nearly 1 million medical professionals rely upon the power and scalability of the eCW Cloud for its flexible clinical documentation, better front-office workflows, and more efficient billing driven by Robotic Process Automation. By combining innovation, leading-edge technology, and showcasing a strong commitment towards patient safety, eClinicalWorks empowers practices to grow and thrive amid the 21^st-century challenges in healthcare. For more information, visit www.eclinicalworks.com, follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X/Twitter, or call (866) 888-6929.

Remote Patient Monitoring Works. UnitedHealthcare’s 2026 Rollback Ignores the Evidence, and Patients Will Pay the Price.

TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The following is an opinion editorial provided by Casey Pittock, CEO, Smart Meter:

UnitedHealthcare’s decision to sharply limit remote patient monitoring (RPM) reimbursement beginning January 1, 2026, to heart failure and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, is a disservice to clinicians, patients, and the healthcare system at large. It contradicts federal momentum to modernize chronic care and misrepresents the weight of current evidence on RPM’s clinical value for common conditions like hypertension and diabetes. If implemented, this policy will widen health disparities, undercut value-based care, and raise avoidable downstream costs. [1, 2]

Let’s begin with the facts. UnitedHealthcare’s policy asserts that RPM is “not reasonable and necessary” for a sweeping list of indications, including diabetes and non-pregnancy hypertension, citing “insufficient evidence of efficacy.” At the same time, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has moved in the opposite direction. In the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS), CMS finalized new codes that expand flexibility for shorter monitoring periods (2–15 days) and recognize briefer, but clinically meaningful, patient engagement time, explicitly to bring RPM in line with real-world use and outcomes. That is federal reinforcement, not retreat. [3, 4]

The evidence base for RPM is broad and growing. In heart failure, the one condition UnitedHealthcare will continue to cover, multiple systematic reviews and meta-analyses show reduced hospitalizations and, in many programs, mortality benefits. A 2025 meta-analysis of randomized trials and cohorts reported a significant reduction in heart failure–related hospitalizations (RR≈0.80) and a modest mortality benefit, with both implantable and noninvasive RPM modalities such as a cellular-connected blood pressure monitoring device contributing. Program components matter (daily data capture, blood pressure monitoring, responsive workflows), but the direction of effect is clear. [5]

Hypertension is where UnitedHealthcare’s decision is most out of step. The payer’s stance overlooks robust literature demonstrating that connected blood pressure monitoring, when coupled with timely titration and coaching, improves control and reduces acute utilization. CMS itself has acknowledged these real-world gains by making RPM more adaptable to variable adherence and shorter episodes of care (e.g., medication titration), exactly the scenarios where home blood pressure data drives earlier, safer changes in therapy. [3, 4]

Diabetes is similarly miscategorized. While not every RPM program delivers identical results, the arc of evidence, especially when RPM is integrated with medication management and education, shows improved glycemic control and fewer emergency visits compared with usual care. In fact, a study that Smart Meter conducted with Howard University showed that cellular connected glucose monitoring devices, when used by high-risk patients over a 12-week period, reduced the average A1c of 70% of participants by 2.8 points. Policymakers and payers should be encouraging standardized, high-quality RPM models, not eliminating coverage. [6, 12]

Critics often point to older trials that failed to move “hard endpoints.” Those studies are instructive, and a foreshadowing. For example, the BEAT-HF study performed over 10 years ago that incorporated telemonitoring, coaching, and home blood pressure devices did not reduce 180‑day all‑cause readmissions after discharge; however, it improved quality of life at 180 days and exposed operational lessons, like alert burden, variable clinician responses, and the need for clearer action protocols. In other words, it showed how to do RPM better. Modern programs have incorporated those lessons, streamlined alerts, protocolized titration, and daily measurements, yielding the stronger outcomes observed in recent meta-analyses. [7]

In a 2025 study published in the American Journal of Managed Care, deployment of an RPM program in Medicare patients with concomitant care coaching was associated with statistically significant reductions in both elevated BP readings and the presence of stage 2 hypertension. 1,594 Medicare participants were actively engaged in the program for 1 year. Of these, 652 had stage 2 hypertension. The initial mean SBP/DBP ratio for those with stage 2 hypertension was 152/85 mm Hg, which decreased to 132/74 mm Hg by month 12. At baseline, 100% of these 652 patients met the criteria for stage 2 hypertension, but by month 12, this percentage decreased to 25%. [13]

Even in conditions where evidence has been mixed, like COPD, reviews suggest RPM is safe and acceptable and, when paired with regular clinician feedback, can reduce COPD-related admissions. UnitedHealthcare’s blanket exclusion reads as a dismissal of nuance and an invitation to perpetuate avoidable hospitalizations among high-risk patients. [8]

From an economic lens, RPM is increasingly cost-effective when evaluated from the payer or healthcare sector perspective, especially in cardiovascular disease. A 2023 systematic review found that RPM can be cost-effective in the long run, two cost-utility analyses even met conservative $50,000 per QALY thresholds, while model-based studies consistently supported long-term value. The path to affordability is not to cut coverage; it’s to pay for the right RPM programs tied to outcomes. [9]

To be fair, concerns about payment models are legitimate. The Peterson Center on Healthcare has argued that “forever codes” and indefinite RPM billing, regardless of benefit, could drive waste. But their recommendation is performance-driven coverage, not eliminating coverage for most chronic conditions. UnitedHealthcare appears to have jumped from critique to curtailment, without building the outcome-linked alternative that stakeholders actually need. [10]

Meanwhile, CMS is modernizing RPM valuations (using OPPS geometric mean costs) and codifying shorter episodes and briefer management time, aligning reimbursement with software, cloud, and security realities of digital care and rewarding proactive engagement. That policy trajectory supports agile, episode-based RPM that aligns payment with clinical impact. UnitedHealthcare’s rollback would strand providers between progressive federal policy and regressive commercial coverage, sowing confusion and undermining care continuity for millions. [3, 4]

What Patients and Providers Will Lose

1. Earlier interventions. RPM brings the clinic to the home, catching health decline before an ED visit. Daily blood pressure or weight changes, paired with clinician action, prevent crises – as documented across heart failure and hypertension programs. Removing coverage will delay adjustments and invite avoidable hospitalizations. [5]
2. Medication optimization. The precise, short-duration codes CMS just finalized are tailor-made for titration periods, and for ongoing management of chronic disease. Eliminate RPM payments, and you force clinicians back to guesswork between visits, especially damaging in hypertension and diabetes where therapy changes hinge on recent home data. [3]
3. Equity. RPM reduces barriers for rural and mobility-limited patients. Coverage cuts will disproportionately harm those who rely on home monitoring to access timely care, widening gaps CMS has been trying to close with telehealth flexibilities. [11]

A Better Path: Pay for Performance, Not for Absence

As a company whose FDA approved devices and private data network power RPM programs nationwide, Smart Meter supports accountable models. We believe payers should:

• Tie reimbursement to program design features linked to outcomes, like daily measurements where indicated, responsive workflows, clinician review time, and documented actions (e.g., meds titrated). Meta-analytic data show these components matter. [5]
• Use episode-based payments AND long-term chronic condition management regardless of duration but aligned to clinical goals (e.g., post-discharge windows, titration periods, individual patient needs), with extensions contingent on measured benefit. This mirrors CMS’s shift to shorter monitoring codes where appropriate while still supporting longer-term chronic care management utilizing affordable and efficient RPM technologies. [3]
• Require transparent reporting and standardized economic methods, as urged by recent reviews, to compare value across vendors and programs. [6]

UnitedHealthcare’s role, as the nation’s largest private insurer, should be to lead in building outcome-linked RPM coverage, not to indiscriminately slash it. The company’s 2026 policy will drive patients back to reactive care, increase readmissions, and ultimately cost more. CMS has given us the framework to do RPM right. Let’s use it.

Our Commitment

Smart Meter will continue partnering with RPM companies, chronic care management platform companies, and providers to implement evidence-based RPM. With daily BP monitoring for hypertension, weight and BP monitoring for heart failure, daily glucose monitoring for diabetes, and integrated workflows that prioritize actionable alerts and timely, perhaps proactive, health mitigations. We will continue to publish outcomes, support independent evaluations, and align with emerging payer requirements that reward programs demonstrating real clinical impact.

RPM is not a panacea. It is a set of tools whose effectiveness depends on design, adherence, and clinician response. But when done well, it saves lives and dollars. Rolling back coverage for the conditions that burden our patients and our system the most is the wrong answer at the wrong time.

UnitedHealthcare should not be shortsighted and cheap. Instead, UnitedHealthcare should reconsider, and join clinicians, patients, and CMS in moving chronic care forward, not backward.

 

Call to Action: Policymakers and payers must align coverage with

evidence, not arbitrary exclusions. Join Smart Meter in

advocating for outcome-driven RPM reimbursement that protects patients

and promotes value-based care.

Sources:

1. HealthExec reporting on UHC’s RPM rollback across Medicare Advantage and commercial plans (Nov. 7, 2025). [healthexec.com]
2. FierceHealthcare analysis of UHC’s policy and contrast with CMS expansion (Nov. 7, 2025). [fiercehealthcare.com]
3. Nixon Law Group summary of CMS’s 2026 MPFS RPM updates. [nixonlawgroup.com]
4. Kencor Health overview of CMS final RPM codes (Nov. 18, 2025). [kencorhealth.com]
5. Meta-analyses and reviews on heart failure RPM outcomes. [pdfs.seman...cholar.org], [academic.oup.com]
6. The State of Remote Patient Monitoring for Chronic Disease Management in the United States. [jmir.org]
7. BEAT-HF trial and qualitative EMPOWER study lessons. [jamanetwork.com], [bmccardiov...entral.com]
8. COPD RPM systematic review. [bmchealths...entral.com]
9. Economic evaluations of RPM in cardiovascular disease. [cambridge.org]
10. Peterson Center recommendations on performance-driven coverage. [petersonhe...thcare.org], [medicaleconomics.com]
11. CMS telehealth/RPM guidance and flexibilities. [cms.gov]
12. Diabetes Care Solution Demonstrated to Help High-Risk Patients LowerHbA1c levels in Howard University Study. [biospace.com/smart-meter-iglucose]
13. Effect of Remote Patient Monitoring on Stage 2 Hypertension. [ajmc.com/view/effect…]

The number of people in the U.S. with hypertension continues to rise and so does the use of remote patient monitoring (RPM) devices to track the progress and manage the care of hypertensive patients. In fact, most hypertension patients say an RPM program would help them better manage their condition.

Only about 25% of people with hypertension have their condition under control, according to the Centers for Disease Control¹ and the Mayo Clinic lists home monitoring as a key factor in helping patients control their blood pressure. In the 2025 National Blood Pressure Survey, 52% of respondents said they agree that an RPM program would better help them deal with their blood pressure issues between physician office visits.

“It’s so important to partner with patients on improving their blood pressure,” said Michael Rakotz, MD, a family physician and vice president of health outcomes at the American Medical Association (AMA), in a recent interview. “Having patients take their own BP measurements is a way to do that and engage patients in self-management of their blood pressure,”

That engagement can’t happen unless the physician has continuous, accurate blood pressure data from the patient’s blood pressure monitor. Surprisingly, 71% of the survey respondents said their blood pressure monitor does not have the ability to remotely send their readings to a provider. And because of this, only 8.5% respondents said a reading is sent to their provider immediately after testing.

This means the patient must keep track of their results and take those results with them for their next office visit. Having patients log their readings leads to less accurate data for their physician to review due to human error and the tendency for the patient to falsify results to avoid confrontation with their physician.

“Providing hypertension patients with the ability to self-monitor and for the vital sign reading to be sent to their provider is a crucial step in helping them control their disease,” said Dr. Bill Lewis, a member of the CHQI Telemedicine Standards and Medical Advisory Board and Chair of the Telemedicine Accreditation Committee. “With a cellular remote patient monitoring system, there are no Bluetooth connections, hubs, or apps, making it easier for patients to check their blood pressure and know their test results are being viewed and tracked regularly.”

Smart Meter’s cellular-connected iBloodPressure^® monitors for hypertension transmit the results within milliseconds through a private data network, purpose built for the unique challenge of transmitting large amounts of patient-generated health data. By utilizing a cellular network, Smart Meter’s monitors don’t require WiFi, synching, pairing or a hub so all the patient does is push a button and the monitor does the rest.

And now Smart Meter has partnered with Kura Care, a 12-week, SMS-based patient engagement program designed to increase testing adherence. The Kura Care program uses analytics and a reminder system to help patients test their blood pressure more consistently. It seamlessly integrates with Smart Meter’s blood pressure devices. This provides the ultimate combination of device ease-of-use and testing adherence assistance to improve Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reimbursement.

About Smart Meter, LLC
Smart Meter is the premier technology infrastructure provider for Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) and patient engagement. We empower a nationwide network of SmartPartners™ who are working directly with healthcare providers to transform patient care. We reliably deliver millions of real-time vital health readings for over 300,000 patients using our proprietary FDA registered cellular devices through our exclusive AT&T private data network. Trusted by thousands of healthcare service providers, Smart Meter is revolutionizing the way health data supports patient well-being and care. For more information, visit SmartMeterRPM.com

¹ Facts About Hypertension | cdc.gov

Smart Meter, a pioneering force in remote patient monitoring (RPM) technology, is set to revolutionize patient engagement with the launch of SmartHealth Solutions—a game-changing suite of AI-powered tools and applications—at the HIMSS 2025 National Conference in Las Vegas tomorrow.

SmartHealth Solutions represents a significant leap forward in connected health, empowering patients to take control of their wellness while equipping healthcare providers with real-time, actionable insights. Designed to enhance accessibility, efficiency, and overall health outcomes, these innovative tools leverage cutting-edge artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, and behavioral science to drive meaningful improvements in patient adherence and engagement.

“With patient engagement and therapy adherence being two of the biggest challenges in healthcare today, we are committed to delivering innovative solutions that make proactive health management seamless and intuitive,” said Casey Pittock, CEO of Smart Meter. “By integrating AI-driven applications with our cellular-enabled health monitoring devices, we’re making it easier than ever for patients to stay engaged in their care while providing healthcare professionals with crucial data for improved decision-making.”

Five Breakthrough SmartHealth Solutions Unveiled

Launching with five powerful, user-friendly tools, SmartHealth Solutions is set to transform how patients and providers interact with healthcare technology:

Chronic Care Management and Behavioral Science App

A hyper-personalized AI-powered app that adapts dynamically to each user’s unique health needs, incorporating behavioral science to drive better habits, adherence, and overall wellness. Features include:

• Real-time personalized recommendations based on user behavior
• Integrated tools for testing adherence, exercise tracking, and nutrition guidance
• AI-driven reminders to keep patients engaged and on track

Gait Analysis for Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM)

An FDA-listed medical software app that analyzes gait and mobility data, offering deep insights into functional movement and overall health. Benefits include:

• Remote monitoring to support early intervention and proactive care
• Integrated RTM code support for seamless billing and reimbursement

AI-Enhanced Blood Pressure Coaching

A text-based engagement platform that encourages consistent blood pressure monitoring through:

• SMS reminders and personalized coaching for a 12-week program that helps patients understand how their lifestyle affects their blood pressure
• AI-driven insights that help patients form long-term monitoring habits

AI-Powered Atrial Fibrillation (Afib) Monitoring

An FDA-cleared smartphone application that simplifies heart health tracking by:

• Measuring heart rhythm and heart rate with a simple smartphone camera scan
• Conducting real-time analysis by a clinically validated AI algorithm with clinical oversight and verification
• Providing real-time data to support early detection and intervention

AI Avatar for Patient-Provider Interactions

An innovative SMS-based system featuring AI-generated video interactions designed to:

• Improve testing adherence with near real-time patient engagement
• Offer an interactive, personalized health coaching experience
• Leverage the likeness of patients’ trusted healthcare providers to improve trust

Each solution is engineered for seamless integration into existing healthcare systems, ensuring a frictionless experience for both patients and providers. By leveraging AI-driven personalization, intuitive interfaces, and real-time data delivery, SmartHealth Solutions is set to redefine what’s possible in remote patient care.

Join Us at HIMSS 2025 for an Exclusive First Look

The official SmartHealth Solutions launch event will take place on March 4 at booth #1418 during HIMSS 2025 in Las Vegas. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience live product demonstrations, interact with the developers behind these groundbreaking innovations, and discover how Smart Meter is transforming patient engagement through next-generation technology. Enter for a chance to win an iPhone 16.

About Smart Meter, LLC

Smart Meter is the premier infrastructure provider for Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM), delivering clinically validated, AI-powered patient engagement solutions that drive better health outcomes. With millions of real-time vital health readings securely transmitted across our exclusive AT&T private data network, we empower healthcare providers with actionable insights to enhance patient care. Learn more at www.SmartMeterRPM.com

Media contact: Keith Tolbert, 336-509-8024

Innovative, Patient-Friendly Solution for the Rapidly Growing Remote Patient Monitoring and Chronic Care Management Markets

Smart Meter, the leading supplier of Cellular Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM)^™ solutions has introduced a new version of the iGlucose, its patented cellular-connected glucose meter used by over 200,000 people with diabetes since 2019.  The redesigned model, branded iGlucose Plus, has many unique, advanced features that disrupt the remote blood glucose monitoring market and improves access for millions of patients to highly accurate diabetes management technology.

The iGlucose Plus is an innovative glucose meter that is easy to use and requires no synching, pairing, smartphone, or Wi-Fi. It automatically transmits results to the patient’s provider using built-in cellular technology allowing real-time tracking of blood glucose levels from anywhere.

The new iGlucose Plus allows patients to receive important notifications and reminders, both automated and proactively sent from a health care provider or supplier, directly on the device. Notifications can include dietary reminders designed to help patients make better food choices or prescription pick-up reminders from a pharmacy. iGlucose Plus has a clear, color LED screen allowing easier viewing of testing instructions and results, leading to better patient satisfaction and adherence to testing guidelines. iGlucose Plus is available with Spanish language on-screen prompts providing improved access to care to a largely underserved patient population. With over-the-air software updates via cellular connectivity, iGlucose Plus has the ability to add new features at the patient level.

“Smart Meter continues to invest heavily in R&D to improve our solutions to make it easier for patients to test more consistently and improve their outcomes. The new iGlucose Plus is an excellent example of that,” said Casey Pittock, CEO of Smart Meter. “Its enhanced battery life, stronger cellular connectivity, and remote programming capability—combined with our proprietary AI-driven glucose test strip auto replenishment service—make it an exceptional value for our customers and their patients.”

With approximately 5 million people with diabetes living in rural areas, it is important that their physicians have a way to track their blood glucose levels on a regular basis. Because the iGlucose Plus uses cellular networks to send results immediately, these patients can get the proper attention they need without making as many office visit. In a Howard University study of patients with diabetes using the iGlucose®, 70% of high-risk participants lowered their A1c by an average of 2.8% within 90 days¹.

The new iGlucose Plus will be on display at the American Telemedicine Association show in Phoenix, Arizona May 5 – 7 at Smart Meter’s booth #1007.

About Smart Meter, LLC
Smart Meter is the trusted supplier of cellular Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) and Chronic Care Management (CCM) solutions. We empower a nationwide network of SmartPartners™ who are working directly with healthcare providers to transform patient care. Millions of vital health data readings are reliably delivered across our platform to enable real-time, better-informed health care. Our proprietary patient-friendly, cellular FDA-registered monitoring devices are connected to an exclusive AT&T 4/5G private data network to ensure an engaging patient experience for improved adherence. For more information, visit www.SmartMeterRPM.com

1 - The Benefits of Remote Monitoring of Real Time Blood Glucose Data Using iGlucose System in Managing Patients with Diabetes, Howard University Diabetes Center.