Connecting the Dots: How CPAs Bring RPM and Vaccines Together

A Collaborative Practice Agreement is an approved partnership between a pharmacist and a healthcare provider. It outlines how both work together to support patients, allowing pharmacists to take a more active role in ongoing care, such as monitoring chronic conditions or following up on health concerns.

This collaboration is key for programs like Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM), where patients use connected devices (like blood pressure cuffs or scales) at home. The data flows to the pharmacy and provider, allowing early intervention when readings fall outside a healthy range.

Most pharmacies already have a Collaborative Practice Agreement (CPA) in place for vaccines. That existing relationship provides a great opportunity to approach the provider about expanding into Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM).

While the vaccination CPA is typically straightforward and limited to administering vaccines, an RPM CPA involves additional clinical and billing components. Updating or establishing a separate CPA for RPM ensures all responsibilities, workflows, and reimbursement details are properly defined under a compliant framework.

For example:

• A patient visits for their flu shot.
• During that visit, their blood pressure is elevated.
• Because the CPA includes RPM, the pharmacy can support the provider by identifying eligible patients and facilitating enrollment once the provider authorizes RPM services.

RPM also supports vaccine efforts by identifying high-risk patients, like those with diabetes, COPD, or hypertension, who need timely immunizations. It helps pharmacies stay connected with patients long after the vaccine visit, supporting overall wellness throughout the year.