How the 2026 Medicare Final Rule Strengthens Chronic Care and Remote Monitoring

Story by Connor Danielowski / November 5, 2025

When CMS released its 2026 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule, it did more than update reimbursement rates—it drew a line in the sand. The message: coordinated, data-informed, continuous care isn’t the future anymore. It’s the standard.

For organizations working with Chronic Care Staffing (CCS), this isn’t news. It’s validation. We’ve been integrating Chronic Care Management (CCM) and Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) into a single, compliant system since 2015—long before CMS made it an official policy.

What Changed in 2026 and What It Means for You

RPM Becomes Infrastructure, Not Optional

Connected devices—BP cuffs, scales, glucose monitors—turn monthly check-ins into data-driven interventions. The 2026 rule cements RPM as essential infrastructure for chronic disease management, not a nice-to-have.  CMS is recognizing the benefit of RPM, even when patients are not taking 16 readings in a 30 day period or getting 20 minutes of care time.  In 2026, CMS will provide additional reimbursement for patients who are actively benefiting from RPM but not quite meeting prior requirements.

Two New RPM CPT Codes Effective January 1st, 2026:

• 99445; 2-15 days of readings (Final rates for 2026 yet to be published)
• 99470; First 10 minutes of clinical monitoring time (Final rates for 2026 yet to be published)

CCM and RPM Are Protected Revenue Streams

While procedural codes face cuts, time-based care models—CCM, RPM, and Behavioral Health Integration—are protected.

Translation: Medicare is betting on real human contact, not just procedures. That’s where the ROI lives now.

Here’s the Shift in One Image

Chronic care used to be a single-lane bridge: phone calls connecting patients to providers. CMS just added lanes for digital monitoring, behavioral support, and virtual supervision—all leading to the same destination: better outcomes.

When CCM and RPM work together, you don’t just have a bridge. You have a smart bridge that adjusts in real time, guiding patients safely through every stage of care.

Why Chronic Care Staffing Clients Are Already Ahead

We built for this model years ago. Here’s what that means for you:

• No software friction. Our nurses chart directly in your EMR—no parallel systems, no data silos.
• One care team, one relationship. Patients get coordinated CCM and RPM from the same nurse, not fragmented touchpoints.
• Results that hold up. Clients report lower A1C and LDL levels, 60% fewer ER visits, and 9.5/10 patient satisfaction.
• Audit-proof documentation. Every call, every device reading, every intervention meets CMS standards—automatically.

CCS’s RPM adoption rates lead the industry because we build trust before deploying technology. When patients already know their care coordinator, adding a home monitor feels like continuity, not intrusion.

Three Actions to Take Now

1. Audit your current setup. Are CCM and RPM integrated or operating in silos? If they’re disconnected, you’re leaving money and outcomes on the table.
2. Leverage new supervision flexibilities. Virtual oversight changes staffing economics. CCS can show you how.
3. Enroll strategically. RPM adoption accelerates when it starts with established CCM relationships—not cold outreach.

Ready to operationalize these changes? Join our 2026 Medicare Webinar to learn exactly how the new rules impact your reimbursement, compliance posture, and patient engagement strategy.

The Bottom Line

The 2026 rule rewards what actually works: consistent, relationship-driven, tech-enabled care.

With CCS, your CCM and RPM programs aren’t separate initiatives—they’re one continuous system. Compliant, compassionate, and financially sustainable.

The healthcare landscape is shifting fast. But if you’re with CCS, you’re not scrambling to catch up.

You’re already there.

Click Here for the Full CMS Report

Categories: Chronic Care Management News