Caveat emptor: the need for evidence, regulation, and certification of home telehealth systems for the management of chronic conditions.

The home telehealth market is rapidly expanding. The technology and capabilities currently available have the potential to significantly affect the clinical management of an aging population, particularly, the large number with multiple coexisting disease processes. Potential benefits of home-monitoring systems for patients with heart failure range from decreased rates of mortality and improved quality of life to providing third party payers, including the federal government (ie, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services), with significant long-term cost savings.