H.R.3108 - Rural Patient Monitoring Access Act; RPM Access Act (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.3108, the Rural Patient Monitoring Access Act or RPM Access Act, aims to amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve Medicare payments for remote patient monitoring (RPM). The bill seeks to establish a floor for practice expense and malpractice geographic indices for RPM and ensure high-quality RPM services under Medicare. It mandates real-time response to anomalies, data compatibility with electronic health records, and data reporting for cost savings evaluation.
Expected Effects
This bill is likely to increase access to remote patient monitoring, particularly in rural areas, by improving Medicare reimbursement rates. It will also likely lead to better coordinated care and potentially lower healthcare costs. The required reporting may also give insights into the effectiveness of RPM.
Potential Benefits
- Increased access to healthcare for rural residents.
- Improved patient outcomes through coordinated care and remote monitoring.
- Potential cost savings for the Medicare program.
- Better data collection for evaluating the effectiveness of RPM.
- Incentivizes the use of technology in healthcare.
Potential Disadvantages
- Increased costs to the Medicare program due to higher reimbursement rates.
- Potential administrative burden on providers for data collection and reporting.
- Risk of fraud or abuse in RPM services.
- May not address all barriers to healthcare access in rural areas.
- The 'unreasonable hardship' exemption for data collection could create loopholes.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill aligns with the Constitution's general welfare clause (Preamble) by aiming to improve healthcare access and outcomes. Congress has the power to regulate Medicare under the Necessary and Proper Clause (Article I, Section 8) to execute its enumerated powers, including providing for the general welfare. The bill does not appear to infringe on any specific constitutional rights or limitations.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).