Remote Monitoring of Patient-Generated Health Data

Describe your topic.: The role of both synchronous and asynchronous remote monitoring (RM) of patient-generated health data (PGHD) as an essential element of advanced healthcare systems. Americans suffering from chronic conditions, particularly those that are suffering from multiple chronic conditions. We believe the scope of the population for this EPC evidence review should be wide to provide insights on the benefits of remote monitoring of PGHD across age range, gender, coexisting diagnoses, reasons for therapy; however, if AHRQ does believe there is a need to limit the scope of the evidence review, we urge that it be for Medicare beneficiaries. CHI urges AHRQ to focus the evidence review on prevention of widely-experienced chronic diseases (e.g., diabetes, COPD, stroke, etc.). Cost savings, improved care, reduced hospitalizations, avoidance of complications, and improved patient satisfaction.

Describe why this topic is important.: As policymakers consider policy decisions addressing outdated regulations that limit the use of evidence-based, patient-centered care solutions, including in key federal benefit programs such as the CMS Physician Fee Schedule (and its preventative programs including the Diabetes Prevention Program), as well as the Quality Payment Program (the latter driving future Alternative Payment Models), CHI believes that it is paramount that connected health innovations be fully considered for the efficiencies they provide on a number of levels. Therefore an AHRQ evidence review on this topic would come at a crucial time. CMS has acknowledged that remote monitoring innovations reduce costs and improve care in providing limited support for treatments remote monitoring in Medicare. However, with regard to prevention, a perceived lack of evidence on clinical benefits and cost savings continue to impede policymakers’ ability to modify antiquated healthcare provisions to permit use of connected health tech-enabled innovations. As a result, U.S. government support for the use of cutting-edge tolls to prevent chronic conditions is severely lacking.

Tell us why you are suggesting this topic.: New sensor- and internet connectivity-enabled innovations offer incredible opportunity to prevent the onset of chronic conditions for countless Americans. Evidence provided by AHRQ should help policymakers and private sector stakeholders support policy changes that will unlock this potential.

Describe what you are doing currently and what you are hoping will change because of a new evidence report.: CHI actively advocates for the use of connected health technologies to be used in preventing suffering from chronic conditions. We believe that existing evidence supports the use of connected health tech offers a critical means to prevent this suffering, but hear from some U.S. policymakers that they believe an evidence gap exists. This evidence report would provide a crucial basis for greater U.S. government for, and private support of, new and innovative tools in preventing painful and expensive diseases.

How will you or your group use the information from a new evidence report?: CHI would use this report to support the use of connected health innovations across public and private systems, both in the U.S. and elsewhere. This evidence report’s impact, coming from AHRQ, would be extremely impactful.

How would you or your group plan to disseminate information from the report? Who would you plan to disseminate it to?: We would share public links to the report and cite it in our own written and spoken advocacy across any appropriate fora.

Do you know of organizations that could use an evidence report to change clinical practice? Are you a part of, or have you been in contact with, any organizations that might implement the research findings of an evidence report?: CHI has been in contact with a wide range of organizations that would benefit from the evidence report that we propose. These include a wide range of providers, from the largest and most distributed in America to small and rural providers. Some of these organizations are members of the CHI’s Steering Committee.

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Please tell us how you heard about the Effective Health Care Program.: AHRQ email announcements/AHRQ website

Effective Health Care Program