Telehealth visits surged 3,800% at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and have remained 38 times higher than pre-pandemic levels. This permanent shift in care delivery has created new demand patterns for home-based medical supplies, connected monitoring devices, and point-of-care diagnostics. For medical supply procurement teams and DME suppliers, understanding these trends is essential for inventory planning and business development.
Remote Patient Monitoring: The Fastest-Growing Segment
Remote patient monitoring (RPM) uses connected devices to transmit physiological data from patients' homes to clinical teams in real time. CMS CPT codes 99453–99457 reimburse RPM setup and monthly monitoring — creating a sustainable revenue stream for providers and driving device demand. High-growth RPM categories include:
- Cellular-enabled blood pressure monitors: Omron Complete, Withings BPM Connect, iHealth Track transmit readings directly to provider platforms. Standard RPM requires measurements on ≥16 days/month.
- Pulse oximeters with data connectivity: Masimo SafeAir, Nonin WristOx2, and iHealth Air for SpO₂ and heart rate monitoring in COPD, heart failure, and post-COVID patients.
- Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs): Abbott FreeStyle Libre, Dexterity G7, and Medtronic Guardian 4 for real-time glucose trending in diabetes management.
- Smart weight scales: Withings Body+, iHealth Wireless for daily weight monitoring in heart failure patients — the most sensitive early indicator of decompensation.
- Spirometers: Portable, connected spirometers for COPD patients to track FEV1/FVC at home.
Home Diagnostics: Point-of-Care Testing Expansion
The pandemic accelerated FDA authorization of home diagnostic tests that previously required a clinic visit. This trend is expanding to new categories:
- COVID-19/Flu/RSV combination tests: Abbott BinaxNOW, iHealth COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test
- Strep throat rapid tests
- Urinary tract infection (UTI) test strips
- Pregnancy and fertility tests
- Lipid panel home testing kits
- A1C home test kits for diabetes monitoring between lab draws
Chronic Disease Self-Management Supplies
Telehealth has empowered patients to manage chronic conditions more actively between provider visits. High-demand home supplies driven by telehealth include:
- Glucose meters and test strips (traditional and CGM)
- Lancets and lancing devices for blood glucose monitoring
- Nebulizers and spacers for home asthma/COPD management
- Blood pressure monitoring supplies
- Compression stockings for chronic venous insufficiency and lymphedema
- TENS units for pain management
- Peak flow meters for asthma monitoring
Impact on DME Supplier Business Models
For DME suppliers, telehealth creates both opportunity and disruption. The opportunity: RPM programs require ongoing supply replenishment (electrodes, test strips, lancets, CGM sensors, BP cuffs) that generates recurring revenue. The disruption: some traditional DME categories face margin pressure from direct-to-consumer connected device sales bypassing traditional distribution channels.
Forward-thinking DME suppliers are partnering with telehealth platforms, offering turnkey RPM program setup, and building value-added services around connected device programs.
Supply Chain Implications
The shift to home-based care is decentralizing medical supply demand. Instead of purchasing in bulk for centralized facilities, DME suppliers and home health agencies need flexible distribution models with smaller, more frequent shipments to individual patient homes. This places a premium on supplier reliability, breadth of catalog, and order fulfillment speed.
Healix supports home health agencies and DME suppliers with a 500,000+ product catalog, competitive bulk pricing, and fast fulfillment. Contact us to discuss your program's supply needs.