Remote patient monitoring has emerged as one of the most common uses of the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program, created under last year’s federal reconciliation law and administered by CMS.
States, hospitals and health systems are citing remote monitoring in their Rural Health Transformation (aka RHT) plans as a way to manage chronic disease, keep patients out of the emergency department and extend clinical oversight into rural patients’ homes. Here are nine examples:
1. West Virginia: Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced a $14 million RHT investment split between inpatient and outpatient remote monitoring: about $4.9 million to help hospitals install advanced inpatient monitoring technology, and $9.1 million to support at-home monitoring — connected blood pressure cuffs and glucose meters — for patients managing chronic conditions.
2. Newman Regional Health (Emporia, Kan.): The organization was named one of 10 “anchor hospitals” under Kansas’ RHT plan, which received $221.8 million in first-year funding. Remote patient monitoring through expanded use of wearable technology is one of four strategic priorities for anchor hospitals in year one, alongside AI/EHR optimization, rural residency programs and on-demand support.
3. Baxter Health (Mountain Home, Ark.): The health system, which serves about 170,000 residents across nine north-central Arkansas counties, submitted the first of four planned applications to the state’s $209 million RHT program. The proposal, Thrive at Home, bundles remote patient monitoring with community paramedicine, hospital at home, virtual care and care coordination.
4. Virginia: The commonwealth’s Rural Vitality plan includes a $79.2 million remote patient monitoring subinitiative run through the Virginia Hospital Research and Education Foundation as part of its broader CareIQ program. It launches with two to three pilot hospitals in Year 1 before expanding to additional health systems statewide.
5. North Dakota: As part of $50.5 million in RHT grant opportunities, the state opened about $1.6 million specifically for its Clinics Without Walls remote patient monitoring grant to help rural providers manage chronic conditions and expand at-home care.
6. Connecticut: The Office of Health Strategy opened a funding opportunity for AI-enabled remote patient monitoring and care coordination, making $1.8 million available in Year 1 with individual awards of $100,000 to $1 million. Eligible applicants include hospitals and health systems, academic medical centers and federally qualified health centers.
7. South Carolina: The state’s Connections to Care initiative, part of its $200 million RHT award, sets aside $75 million for health IT infrastructure and remote patient monitoring, covering standards-based RPM equipment for patients with diabetes, hypertension, COPD and heart disease.
8. Michigan: With its $173 million RHT award, the state is establishing a “rural technology catalyst” fund to help rural hospitals and clinics adopt telehealth and remote patient monitoring tools, with a stated focus on chronic disease and maternal health.
9. Mississippi: Gov. Tate Reeves launched a Rural Health Transformation Program Office to oversee the state’s nearly $206 million award. Mississippi’s implementation plan includes patient monitoring systems alongside virtual nursing, telemedicine tools and mobile clinics.
Editor’s note: This is not an exhaustive list. If you know of other states, hospitals or health systems that should be included, please email gbruce@beckershealthcare.com.
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