Why Pulmonologists Should Implement CCM & RPM With ThoroughCare

Pulmonologists today are managing increasingly complex patient populations, like those living with chronic respiratory diseases such as COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), asthma, and ILD (Interstitial Lung Disease). These conditions require continuous oversight, timely intervention, and consistent patient engagement.

That’s where programs like Chronic Care Management (CCM) and Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) are improving the way care is delivered. When implemented effectively, these programs allow pulmonology practices to extend care beyond the clinic while also creating a sustainable new revenue stream.

With a leading care management platform like ThoroughCare, adding these programs is a simple, streamlined process.

Why Pulmonologists Should Offer CCM & RPM

CCM and RPM were designed with chronic disease management in mind, making pulmonologists uniquely positioned to benefit from both of them. Patients with long-term respiratory illnesses often experience fluctuations in symptoms that can escalate into hospitalizations if not monitored.

CCM addresses this issue by creating an ongoing relationship between the care team and the patient. Each individual is supported by a comprehensive care plan that evolves over time, is reinforced through monthly check-ins, medication management, and coordination across providers. Rather than reacting to a problem, clinicians are able to guide patients more proactively.

RPM complements this approach by adding real-time visibility. Instead of relying solely on in-office visits, providers can monitor key physiologic data like oxygen saturation on a daily basis. This makes it possible to detect subtle changes in condition before they become acute events.

Pulmonology practices are no longer limited to responding after a patient’s condition worsens. Instead, they now have the ability to anticipate problems and intervene earlier.

This is impactful for conditions like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, where hospital readmissions remain a persistent challenge. Nearly one in five COPD patients is readmitted within 30 days, a statistic that shows how quickly conditions can deteriorate without close monitoring.

However, practices that incorporate remote monitoring into pulmonary care often report meaningful reductions in readmissions.  When patients are monitored daily using tools like pulse oximeters, care teams can identify declining oxygen levels or early signs of exacerbation and act immediately.

Implementing CCM & RPM with ThoroughCare

Successfully running these programs requires patient identification, enrollment, device management, documentation, and accurate billing.  ThoroughCare centralizes these processes into a single platform and allows care teams to operate more efficiently and consistently. High-risk patients can be identified quickly, enrollment can be handled digitally, and device data flows directly into the system for review.

ThoroughCare also automates time tracking and CPT code assignment, which ensures that services are properly documented and reimbursed. Instead of handling multiple systems or manual processes, providers can focus on delivering care while the software supports the operational side.

Adding a Sustainable Revenue Stream

In addition to improving patient care, CCM and RPM introduce a beneficial financial model for pulmonology practices. Considering both programs are reimbursed by Medicare based on time and monitoring activities, they create a predictable stream of recurring revenue.

For a single patient enrolled in both programs, monthly reimbursement can average around $140. When scaled across a population of patients, this impact becomes significant. A practice managing just 100 enrolled patients could generate approximately $14,000 in additional monthly revenue, while still delivering higher-quality, more proactive care.

Launching CCM and RPM does not require a complete overhaul of existing workflows. Most pulmonology practices already care for a large number of eligible patients, particularly those with COPD, asthma, ILD, or recent hospitalizations.

With the right platform in place, the process becomes straightforward: identify appropriate patients, enroll them using guided workflows, and begin delivering ongoing care supported by monitoring data and structured outreach. Over time, these processes become a natural extension of the practice rather than an added burden.

CCM and RPM offer a way for pulmonologists to meet that need while strengthening both patient outcomes and practice performance.  By leveraging a platform like ThoroughCare, providers can bring together care planning, monitoring, documentation, and billing into one cohesive system. 

Reach out to us if you'd like to learn more about adding CCM & RPM to your practice.