Tools that allow congestive heart failure patients to take personal readings at home and then submit the data electronically to their doctor or medical case manager are gaining popularity among health insurance companies as a way to cut costs, the Wall Street Journal reports.
At least four major health insurers -- Aetna, Humana, UnitedHealth Group and WellPoint's Anthem Blue Cross in California -- are conducting trials or have announced plans for programs that allow patients to wirelessly and remotely send data, such as weight, blood pressure and other vital sign readings, to a health care professional for tracking and follow-up purposes.
Humana and WellPoint also have included video-conferencing capabilities in their programs to allow patients to communicate directly with their health care providers, while UnitedHealth's program surveys patients twice daily for follow-ups when necessary.
The tools allow patients to stay in their homes and, over the long term, help to reduce the number of hospitalizations and readmissions by ensuring that patients' health and vital statistics are monitored regularly and in a timely manner.
Limitations, Concerns With Tools
Although remote-monitoring systems provide several benefits to patients, health care providers and insurers, they have several limitations, according to the Journal. For example, physicians can be "over-alerted" if a device is improperly used by a patient.
In addition, patients must remember to use the systems, which are not insusceptible to problems (Johnson, Wall Street Journal, 7/27).