COPD Remote Patient Monitoring Initiative (2026) Expression of Interest

⁠⁠⁠12 Month Remote Patient Monitoring Pilot for supporting people living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) across Hunter New England and Central Coast Region

Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network (HNECC PHN) is inviting Expressions of Interest from digital health technology suppliers to participate in a Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) pilot supporting people living with COPD.

The initiative will explore how digital tools can support patient activation, self‑management and engagement with primary care, while operating within existing care pathways.

This is a time‑limited pilot designed to test practical, decentralised RPM model and evidence to inform future commissioning and scale-up decisions.

What the pilot aims to achieve

The RPM pilot focuses on supporting people with COPD to better understand and manage their condition using digital tools that promote insight, confidence and shared decision‑making with their usual care team.

The model is decentralised and patient‑led. It is not intended to provide continuous clinical monitoring or replace existing services. The pilot does not include real‑time clinician alerts, 24/7 oversight, or dedicated monitoring staff.

Data generated through the pilot will support patient‑reported outcomes, experience and evaluation, rather than triggering new clinical responsibilities.

The problem we are trying to solve

People living with COPD often experience:

• Limited visibility of their condition between appointments
• Fragmented care across providers
• Barriers to accessing timely support, particularly outside metropolitan areas

This pilot aims to explore how RPM technology can:

• Help patients better understand and manage their condition day‑to‑day
• Strengthen routine care conversations with primary care teams
• Support earlier, informed intervention without relying on constant monitoring

Who can apply

This Expression of Interest (EOI) is open to health technology suppliers with a pilot ready RPM solution suitable for use in primary care and community settings.

Suppliers should demonstrate the ability to deliver a solution that is clinically safe, accessible, culturally appropriate and compliant with Australian privacy, cybersecurity and digital health governance requirements.

Applications should outline how the proposed solution would be delivered in one or more HNECC priority regions, reflecting local need, feasibility and equity considerations.

Funding available

Up to $150,000 is available to support the co‑design and delivery of a 12‑month pilot, followed by an evaluation period.

Funding may be used for activities such as configuration, implementation, onboarding, training and evaluation, where these sit within the agreed pilot scope.

How applications will be assessed

All applications will be reviewed against the assessment criteria, and applicants will be notified of the outcome by email.

Assessment will follow a multi-staged process designed to balance rigour with efficiency:

• Initial eligibility and suitability screening
• Verification of digital security and clinical safety
• Assessment of delivery confidence and partnership readiness
• Final assurance prior to selection

Only suppliers who demonstrate readiness to deliver within the pilot timeframe will progress.

Grant applications open on Wednesday 15 April 2026. The closing date is 15 May 2026. Late submissions will not be accepted.

The pilot is expected to commence in September 2026.

How to apply

Applications are via completion of the online form on the PHN grants portal, SmartyGrants.

Interested applicants must read the Grant guidelines for further information on Eligibility, Assessment Criteria, Terms and Conditions and the application process before applying.

If your organisation has an RPM solution that is ready to deploy, and you are looking to partner in a structured, evaluated pilot with regional impact, we encourage you to apply.

If you have any questions related to the Grant application platform, Smarty Grants, please contact, Marisa Wilson at grants@thephn.com.au