CPT Code 98979: RTM Treatment Management Services for 10–19 Minutes

RTM CPT Code 98979 Quick Facts

Used for: Remote Therapeutic Monitoring ‍

Effective: January 1, 2026

Time requirement: 10–19 minutes of qualified provider time in a calendar month

Communication requirement: At least 1 real-time interactive communication with the patient or caregiver

2026 National Average Reimbursement: $26.39 (Non-APM) / $26.52 (APM)

Who can bill: Physicians, PTs, OTs, SLPs

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Before 2026, billing any RTM treatment management required 20 minutes of provider time in a calendar month. Reviewing patient data, adjusting a plan of care, and calling a patient between visits often totals less than that, so a large share of real clinical management went unreimbursed. CPT Code 98979 covers that range, from 10 to 19 minutes in a calendar month.

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There are now six CPT® codes used by providers for RTM that are relevant to musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions. The RTM CPT codes are broken down into two basic types: service codes and treatment management codes.

• CPT Code 98975: Initial Set-up and Patient Education

• CPT Code 98985: Supply of Device for Monitoring Musculoskeletal System (2–15 days) (NEW for 2026)

• CPT Code 98977: Supply of Device for Monitoring Musculoskeletal System (16+ days)

• CPT Code 98979: Monitoring/Treatment Management Services, 10–19 minutes (NEW for 2026)

• CPT Code 98980: Monitoring/Treatment Management Services, first 20 minutes

• CPT Code 98981: Monitoring/Treatment Management Services, each additional 20 minutes

In this blog, we'll explore RTM CPT Code 98979, highlighting its role in expanding RTM access as well as the billing and documentation requirements.

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What is CPT Code 98979?

Remote Therapeutic Monitoring CPT® Code 98979: Treatment Management Services, First 10 Minutes

Remote therapeutic monitoring treatment management services, physician or other qualified health care professional time in a calendar month requiring at least 1 real-time interactive communication with the patient or caregiver during the calendar month; first 10 minutes.

• The CPT descriptor reads "first 10 minutes," which means the code is reported once when at least 10 minutes are met. In practice it applies to any total between 10 and 19 minutes, because 98980 replaces it at 20.
• This code allows providers to bill for RTM treatment management when they spend 10 to 19 minutes managing a patient's Remote Therapeutic Monitoring data in a calendar month.

• At least one real-time interactive communication with the patient or caregiver must occur during the calendar month.

• If the provider spends 20 or more minutes on treatment management, they should bill CPT Code 98980 instead.

• You cannot bill code 98979 if fewer than 10 minutes of treatment management services occurred during the calendar month.

Type of CPT Code

Treatment Management Code

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Can Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists bill for CPT Code 98979?

According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the CPT codes for RTM can be billed by "physicians and other eligible qualified healthcare professionals." This includes the following clinicians:

• Physicians

• Physical Therapists

• Occupational Therapists

• Speech Language Pathologists

The 2024 CMS Final Rule brought clarification to the rules of General Supervision. This important provision allows Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists in private practice to provide general supervision for RTM services furnished by their PTAs and OTAs, respectively. This supports RTM management services to be performed outside of the clinic, which is instrumental in providing comprehensive at-home support for patients.

In all cases, providers must practice in accordance with applicable state and scope of practice laws.

What Counts as an Interactive Communication for RTM?

CPT Code 98979 requires at least one real-time interactive communication with the patient or caregiver during the calendar month. Based on CMS guidance, interactive communication involves a real-time synchronous, two-way audio interaction that is capable of being enhanced with video or other kinds of data transmission. Acceptable formats include:

1. Phone call

2. Two-way audio-visual communication

Texting and email do not qualify as interactive communication, as they are not considered real-time synchronous exchanges.

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The interactive communication contributes to the total treatment management time but does not need to represent the entire cumulative reported time of the service. Other activities such as reviewing and interpreting RTM data, adjusting care plans, and coordinating patient care also count toward the total time.

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‍What is the Billing Frequency for CPT Code 98979?

CPT Code 98979 may be billed once per calendar month, if 10–19 minutes of treatment management services are met and at least one real-time interactive communication with the patient or caregiver has occurred.

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Important Billing Rules for 98979

• You bill either 98979 (10–19 minutes) or 98980 (20+ minutes) dependent upon how many minutes of treatment management services occur during the calendar month, not both.

• If a provider spends 20 or more minutes on treatment management, bill 98980 instead.

• 98979 cannot be billed if fewer than 10 minutes of treatment management services occurred.

• At least one real-time interactive communication with the patient or caregiver is required during the calendar month.

• Do not count time toward 98979 that is related to other services billed that day, such as PT, OT, and SLP evaluations, reevaluations, therapeutic exercise, neuromuscular reeducation, gait training, therapeutic activities, or other treatment services.

• 98979 is billed at the end of the calendar month, which is different from the device supply codes (98985, 98977) that are billed based on a 30-day period. It is possible to bill 98979 in a calendar month without being able to bill a device supply code if the 30-day data transmission period has not yet been completed.

• CMS does not allow concurrent RTM services from two different clinicians for the same beneficiary during the same month.
• If 98979 is provided in whole or in part by a physical therapist assistant (PTA) or occupational therapy assistant (COTA), append the CQ or CO modifier respectively on the claim form. These modifiers do not apply to the device supply codes.
• As of January 1, 2026, RTM codes are "sometimes therapy" services. When furnished by a therapist, append the GP, GO, or GN modifier as appropriate to the discipline.

How much does CPT Code 98979 reimburse in 2026?

ICPT Code 98979 has a 2026 national average payment of $26.39 for providers who are not qualifying APM participants and $26.52 for qualifying APM participants. The code may be billed once per calendar month when total treatment management time falls between 10 and 19 minutes and at least one real-time interactive communication has occurred.

‍Clinical Example of RTM Code 98979 in Practice

A physical therapist evaluates a patient on January 27, 2026 and provides the patient with an FDA-defined Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) to monitor compliance with their home exercise program and self-assessment of pain. The PT instructs the patient on how to use the app, how to capture and input data, and answers the patient's questions.

From January 27–31, 2026, the PT spends 9 minutes and 11 seconds analyzing and interpreting the transmitted data, plus 6 minutes on a phone call with the patient to communicate findings and make modifications to their HEP. The total treatment management time for the month of January is 15 minutes and 11 seconds. Because the provider spent between 10 and 19 minutes on treatment management and conducted a real-time interactive communication (the phone call), the provider can bill CPT Code 98979 for January.

In February, the PT spends over 20 minutes on treatment management for this same patient, so the provider would bill CPT Code 98980 instead for that month.

What documentation is required for CPT Code 98979?

• Document the date and amount of time (in minutes and seconds) that the therapist or assistant spent analyzing and interpreting the transmitted data

• Document the date and amount of time (in minutes and seconds) of each interactive communication with the patient and/or caregiver, along with what was discussed during each interaction

• Document any changes to the RTM program and/or plan of care resulting from the data analysis and/or patient/caregiver communication(s)

• Document that the total treatment management time for the calendar month falls within 10–19 minutes

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What is the difference between CPT Codes 98979 and 98980?

Both CPT Code 98979 and 98980 cover RTM treatment management services, but they differ based on the amount of provider time spent during the calendar month. 98979 recognizes shorter-duration treatment management that previously went unreimbursed, while 98980 continues to apply when total monthly time reaches 20 minutes or more. One or the other may be billed, not both.

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RTM CPT Code Questions?

Limber Health's 2026 RTM Opportunity Guide provides a detailed breakdown of the new CPT codes, documentation standards, and practical billing considerations for rehab therapy practices. Click the below to download your free copy of the guide.

The information provided here about the Remote Therapeutic Monitoring CPT Codes is for informational purposes only and does not constitute billing or legal advice.