UnitedHealthcare is delaying a coverage policy that would have sharply restricted remote physiologic monitoring services for most chronic conditions.
The policy, which had been scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, will now be implemented later next year, the insurer confirmed to Becker’s.
“After listening to feedback from care providers, medical societies and other stakeholders, we are postponing the Remote Physiologic Monitoring (RPM) policy scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2026. We still intend to implement this policy in 2026 and will share an updated timeline once it is finalized,” a UnitedHealthcare spokesperson said.
Under the policy, UnitedHealthcare will cover remote monitoring only for heart failure and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, deeming its use for other conditions, including Type 2 diabetes and general hypertension, as “unproven and not medically necessary.” The policy affects Medicare Advantage, commercial and individual exchange, and Medicaid members.
The policy drew swift criticism from providers and industry stakeholders when it was announced, saying it was at odds with current clinical guidelines and federal policy direction.
UnitedHealthcare noted that CMS allows Medicare Advantage plans to establish coverage criteria when those criteria are not fully established in Medicare statutes, regulations, national coverage determinations or local coverage determinations. It also said that the RPM policy is grounded in clinical evidence demonstrating effectiveness for specific conditions, currently heart failure and hypertension during pregnancy.
The insurer said providers should continue billing and coding claims based on the services they provide, and members may continue using home biometric monitoring devices and sharing readings with their providers.The delay comes as CMS has moved to expand remote monitoring. In the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, the agency finalized new billing codes for shorter monitoring periods. The Remote Monitoring Leadership Council previously sent a letter to CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, MD, presenting evidence on cost savings and patient outcomes associated with monitoring.
