On Demand: New Medicare Rules for RPM, CCM and PCM: What High-Performing Practices Need to Implement in 2026-Presentation Slides

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The presentation by Patricia Dickson of Capital Cardiology Associates outlines critical updates and best practices for Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM), Chronic Care Management (CCM), and Principal Care Management (PCM) in 2026, aligned with new Medicare policies.<br /><br />RPM involves digital tools to collect patient health data remotely for chronic or post-operative care, enabling timely interventions and reduced hospital visits. Commonly monitored metrics include blood pressure, heart rate, glucose levels, oxygen saturation, weight, and medication adherence. Effective January 2026, Medicare introduces two new CPT codes for RPM, adding to existing billing options.<br /><br />PCM targets patients with a single high-risk chronic condition requiring intensive management, focusing on personalized care plans and coordinated, non-face-to-face clinical care. New CPT codes for PCM services cover both physician and clinical staff time. CCM, meanwhile, supports patients with two or more serious chronic conditions with comprehensive care plans and continuous management, also utilizing new CPT billing codes for clinical staff time.<br /><br />Medicare’s 2026 reimbursement expansion shows an 8.77% increase across relevant CPT codes, providing more financial support for these programs. A significant new development is the ACCESS program, a voluntary 10-year Medicare model beginning July 2026. ACCESS shifts payment from traditional fee-for-service CPT billing to outcome-aligned payments emphasizing demonstrated clinical improvements across four disease tracks, including cardiovascular and metabolic conditions. This model stresses strong measurement infrastructure with clinical data and makes technology-enabled chronic care foundational.<br /><br />Clinical data presented indicates that RPM significantly reduces systolic blood pressure alert burden (79–92% reductions over time) and improves heart rhythm stability in atrial fibrillation patients. Analysis of a high-risk Medicare cohort showed RPM reduced total cost of care by $14,013 annually per patient, with marked declines in emergency visits, hospitalizations, and readmissions. The program yielded a 17.93:1 return on investment, highlighting its value in managing multi-morbid Medicare populations.<br /><br />In summary, to succeed in 2026 and beyond, healthcare practices must adopt enhanced RPM, CCM, and PCM services aligned with updated Medicare codes and prepare for the transformative ACCESS payment model, focusing on patient outcomes, technology integration, and proactive chronic care management.

Keywords

Remote Patient Monitoring

RPM

Chronic Care Management

CCM

Principal Care Management

PCM

Medicare 2026

CPT codes

ACCESS program

Chronic disease management