Policymakers and payers have come a long way towards providing opportunities for remote patient monitoring (RPM) in pregnancy. However, the focus is almost always on “high-risk” patients — women with chronic conditions, previous complications, or multiple risk factors. But the reality is that risk is not always visible, and restricting coverage to high-risk pregnancies leaves too many women without protection.
Gestational hypertension offers a clear example. It often presents without obvious symptoms in the early stages. If blood pressure isn’t being monitored regularly between office visits, it can go undetected until it escalates into an emergency. For high-risk moms, providers are on alert and watch closely for complications. For moms labeled “low-risk,” the absence of warning signs in the clinic can create a blind spot.
Remote patient monitoring closes that gap.
Consider Madison’s story. She entered pregnancy with no major complications and was considered low risk. It was only thanks to an observant care provider — and her own persistence — that she was enrolled in Babyscripts’ remote blood pressure monitoring program late in pregnancy.
Having grown up hearing her mother’s stories of preeclampsia and eclampsia, Madison was determined to push for extra protection. Within weeks, her at-home readings revealed concerning trends, and her care team intervened quickly. She was diagnosed with gestational hypertension and scheduled for induction — avoiding what could have been a dangerous emergency.
Madison was fortunate: her care provider listened to her, and RPM caught her rising blood pressure before it turned into an emergency. But many women enter pregnancy without this knowledge or the confidence to advocate for themselves—especially those from vulnerable populations — and risk getting lost through the cracks.
Madison’s story highlights a critical truth: low-risk pregnancies are not risk-free, and the absence of visible warning signs makes proactive monitoring even more important. RPM provides an early warning system that ensures all women — not just those flagged as high-risk — have a safety net.
For policymakers and payers, this has important implications:
- Coverage criteria must evolve. Restricting RPM reimbursement to high-risk pregnancies overlooks preventable complications in women who initially appear low risk.
- Investment in prevention pays off. Early detection reduces emergency visits, costly interventions, and adverse outcomes for both mothers and babies.
- Equity depends on access. Women of color and those facing barriers to consistent prenatal care are disproportionately harmed when monitoring is limited to clinic visits. Expanding RPM helps bridge that gap.
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