Smart Meter Rallies RPM Industry to Push Back on CMS's Proposed 2027 Physician Fee Schedule Changes

Company urges vendors, providers, and patient advocates to unite ahead of September 14 public comment deadline and announces plan to help fund independent research on the efficacy and importance of RPM.

TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Smart Meter, a leading provider of cellular-connected remote patient monitoring (RPM) solutions, today called on RPM vendors, healthcare providers, and industry partners to mobilize against provisions in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) proposed Calendar Year 2027 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) that could sharply curtail access to remote monitoring for millions of Medicare beneficiaries.

The proposed rule, issued July 14, 2026, includes several changes that Smart Meter and other industry stakeholders believe would undermine the growth and viability of RPM programs nationwide. Among the most consequential proposals: a prohibition on Medicare reimbursement for RPM and remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM) services furnished by third-party clinical staff who are not direct employees of the billing practitioner or practice, and reduced practice expense valuations for device supply and treatment management codes. If finalized, these changes would take effect January 1, 2027.

"These proposed changes threaten to dismantle the operating model that has allowed RPM to scale and reach patients who need it most, particularly in rural and under-resourced communities," said Casey Pittock, CEO of Smart Meter. "CMS has raised legitimate program-integrity concerns, and we take those seriously. But we believe the agency is proposing a solution that goes far beyond addressing a small number of bad actors and risks eliminating a care model with a genuine, measurable track record of reducing healthcare costs and keeping patients out of the emergency department and out of the hospital."

Mobilizing the Industry and Funding Independent Research

Smart Meter said it is working with policy advocacy organizations and its existing base of healthcare provider and vendor customers to urgently fund independent third-party research examining RPM's clinical efficacy and its measurable impact on reduced emergency department utilization and overall cost savings to the healthcare system. The company noted that much of the existing evidence supporting RPM's value has been generated by industry participants themselves or is drawn from a limited body of independent, peer-reviewed studies — a gap CMS has cited in support of its proposed changes.

"If CMS's central question is whether RPM actually reduces avoidable utilization and saves the system money, then the right response is to go get rigorous, independent answers — not to unwind a benefit before that evidence is fully built out," Pittock said. "We're asking other vendors, health systems, and provider groups to join us in funding that work so the final rule is shaped by data, not assumptions."

Call to Action

With the CMS public comment period closing on September 14, 2026, Smart Meter is urging the RPM community to act now:

- Submit a public comment to CMS outlining how the proposed rule would affect patients, providers, and RPM programs before the deadline closes. Comments can be submitted here: Public Comments – CMS 2027 PFS Proposed Rule

- Join Smart Meter's coalition effort by contacting the company to get involved in the research initiative, comment strategy, or broader advocacy campaign. Contact us here: Connect with Smart Meter!

"This is a moment for the RPM industry to speak with one voice," Pittock added. "Every provider and vendor who has seen firsthand what remote monitoring does for their patients has a stake in this outcome, and a comment period only works if people actually use it."

Organizations interested in joining Smart Meter's advocacy and research efforts, or in learning more about submitting a formal comment to CMS, can contact Smart Meter’s media contact listed below, or submit a comment to CMS here: Public Comments - CMS 2027 PFS Proposed Rule

About Smart Meter

Since 2016, customers have hired Smart Meter to help solve one of healthcare’s most critical challenges, remotely capturing and delivering accurate patient vitals securely and reliably. Today, Smart Meter is the number one trusted supplier of cellular-enabled remote patient monitoring solutions delivering reliable, near real-time patient data to healthcare providers, payers, and technology partners. With millions of vitals transmitted via its exclusive private data network for RPM built in collaboration with AT&T, Smart Meter empowers organizations to securely improve patient outcomes, reduce hospitalizations, and optimize reimbursement. For more information, visit SmartMeterRPM.com.