How to Choose the Best RPM Platform: 5 Features to Look For

It’s 8:17 on a Tuesday morning, and Dr. Martinez is staring at her laptop between patient visits. Two of her patients with heart failure were discharged from the hospital last week. She knows that without close monitoring, both are at risk for readmission. The idea of daily vitals and automated alerts sounds reassuring — but her current setup demands manual uploads, delivers inconsistent data, and requires too many clicks. Her staff is already stretched thin. She wonders: Is there a Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) platform that could actually help — without becoming another administrative burden?

Selecting the right RPM platform isn’t about chasing the flashiest technology. It’s about finding a solution that slides into your workflow, satisfies Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) billing requirements, and delivers tangible benefits for both patients and your practice.

Below, we explore five critical features every practice should consider — complete with real-world examples, implementation guidance, ROI considerations, and compliance pointers.

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1. Comprehensive Device Integration

An RPM platform is only as strong as the data it captures. For patients, convenience often determines whether they participate fully or drift away. Your platform should support a wide range of devices that meet CMS’s requirement to be a medical device under section 201(h) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act — such as blood pressure cuffs, weight scales, pulse oximeters, and glucose meters — and connect via cellular or Bluetooth with minimal setup.

Example:

Mr. Green, a 72-year-old with hypertension, was given a Bluetooth-enabled blood pressure cuff that automatically syncs with his provider’s RPM portal. Previously, his readings were sporadic and self-reported. Now, his clinician sees accurate daily data, allowing medication adjustments in days instead of months.

To bill CPT 99453 (setup/education) and 99454 (device supply and data transmission), CMS requires that data be collected and transmitted on at least 16 days in a 30-day period. Without seamless integration, meeting that threshold is much harder, and staff workload increases. Lara Health ships pre-configured devices directly to patients, so data flows without the common pairing frustrations. Built-in connectivity eliminates the most common barrier to achieving billable device days.

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2. Streamlined Clinical Workflow Integration

The best RPM platforms work with your electronic health record (EHR), not against it. True integration means clinicians can review vitals, document notes, and bill without switching systems or duplicating data entry.

Example:

Before integration, Nurse Jenna spent an hour each morning logging into three separate systems to pull vitals and update charts. With RPM embedded in her EHR, her daily review is completed in a single interface — and her notes sync automatically.

The American Medical Association’s Digital Health Study underscores that workflow fit and efficiency are decisive factors in adopting digital tools, including RPM. Lara Health embeds directly within EHR workflows and allows practices to customize alerts so only actionable items surface — reducing noise, not adding to it.

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3. Automated Compliance and Billing Support

RPM can become a consistent revenue stream, but only if documentation matches CMS requirements. Your platform should automatically track time for CPT 99457/99458 (treatment management), log device transmission days for 99453/99454, and produce audit-ready reports.

Example:

Dr. Singh’s practice once lost significant revenue because manual time logs were incomplete. Now, their platform tracks interactive minutes in real time and produces CMS-compliant reports.

The CY2025 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Final Rule confirms that 99457/99458 are calendar-month services requiring interactive communication; the 16-day requirement applies only to 99453/99454. [1][2] Accurate logging ensures both reimbursement and audit readiness. Lara Health’s RPM tools map every recorded action to CPT billing requirements, flag missing documentation instantly, and export clean, audit-ready packets.

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4. Patient Engagement Tools

RPM isn’t just about numbers; it’s about building an ongoing relationship. Engagement tools like two-way messaging, tailored health tips, and reminders keep patients active in the program — and research links these features with improved adherence and experience. [6][7][8]

Example:

Mrs. Lopez, who manages COPD, receives a daily prompt to take her readings along with a short breathing exercise. She also messages her care team when symptoms change. Her participation remains high months into the program.

Peer-reviewed studies report that programs offering structured communication and real-time feedback see higher adherence, although the size of the improvement varies. Lara Health includes customizable patient communication and instant feedback based on vitals, turning passive monitoring into active, responsive care.

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5.Scalable, Flexible Program Management

Your RPM needs today may be modest, but growth often comes quickly. The right platform should expand across multiple conditions, integrate with other care management programs, and scale to multiple locations without disruptive changes.

Example:

A primary care group started with 40 hypertensive patients and, within a year, scaled to 200 across three locations, adding diabetes and heart failure monitoring without a platform overhaul.

ROI snapshot:

Use this straightforward formula with your local Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) rates:

Monthly RPM revenue ≈ (99454 rate × 1) + (99457 rate × 1 if ≥20 min) + (99458 rate × number of additional 20-min blocks). Multiply by the number of enrolled patients to project monthly revenue.

Lara Health is built for multi-condition monitoring and multi-site rollouts, with central analytics that give you a single view of performance across the program.

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Implementation Strategy

Start with a pilot group of 20–40 patients to refine workflows and device logistics. Train staff not only on the technical aspects but also on patient coaching, as empathetic, consistent communication is one of the strongest predictors of adherence. Track core metrics — enrollment, adherence, monitoring days, billing capture — monthly. Expand steadily once processes are stable.

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Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Overcomplicating device setup: Pre-configured devices and live onboarding remove the most common barrier to meeting CMS’s 16-day device threshold.

Undertraining staff: Without clear protocols for reviewing alerts, documenting time, and escalating care, even the best platform will underperform.

Neglecting patient engagement: Lack of timely communication causes participation to drop. Plan for regular, personal touchpoints, supported by your platform’s messaging tools.

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Compliance and Audit Readiness

RPM billing is scrutinized by CMS and the Office of Inspector General. Ensure your platform logs and timestamps every interactive communication, tracks device-use days, attributes monitoring time correctly, and aligns all records to CPT billing requirements. Only one practitioner may bill RPM for a patient per 30-day period, and time may not be double-counted between services like RPM and Chronic Care Management (CCM). Lara Health surfaces compliance gaps in real time and generates ready-to-submit reports matched to CMS documentation language.

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Conclusion

Every RPM platform promises better care and efficiency. The difference is in execution. Look for one that integrates devices effortlessly, fits into your workflow, automates compliance, engages patients, and scales as you grow. Each RPM patient is an opportunity — to prevent hospitalizations, strengthen patient relationships, and build sustainable revenue.

Ready to elevate your RPM program? Learn more about remote patient monitoring with Lara Health and see how effortless remote care can be when the right tools, prompts, and processes are in place.

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FAQs

What are the core CPT codes for RPM?

CPT 99453 (setup/education) and 99454 (device supply/data transmission) are 30-day codes tied to the 16-day device-use requirement. CPT 99457 (first 20 minutes of treatment management) and 99458 (each additional 20 minutes) are calendar-month codes without the 16-day requirement.

Does Medicare cover RPM for acute conditions?

Yes. CMS allows RPM when medically necessary for acute and chronic conditions. May other payers now cover RPM as well.

Can multiple clinicians bill RPM for the same patient in the same period?

No. Only one practitioner may bill RPM for a patient per 30-day period.

Can RPM and CCM be billed in the same month?

Yes, provided requirements for each are met independently, but time cannot be counted toward both.

What qualifies as an RPM device?

CMS requires that devices meet the FD&C Act’s 201(h) definition of a medical device. In practice, most platforms support devices that meet this definition and can transmit data attributable to a unique patient.

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Sources:

CMS — Final Policy, Payment, and Quality Provisions Changes to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for CY2021 (2020).

HHS/CMS — Billing for Remote Patient Monitoring (2025).

CMS — Chronic Care Management FAQs (2022).

AMA — AMA Digital Health Care 2022 Study Findings (2022).

AMA — AMA Digital Health Study (PDF) (2022).

BMC Health Services Research — Systematic review on RPM impacts (2024).

JMIR — RPM experience review (2024).

JMIR — RPM for heart failure review (2022).

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