Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) is a Medicare-covered service that lets physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and physicians use an FDA-defined medical device to track non-physiological patient data, such as pain scores, exercise adherence, and therapy response, between visits. Providers review that data, connect with the patient at least once a month, and adjust the plan of care based on what they see.
Updated for 2026: This guide covers all six RTM CPT codes for musculoskeletal (MSK) care, including the two new codes (98985 and 98979) finalized in the CY 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, plus current reimbursement rates and billing thresholds effective January 1, 2026.
Remote Therapeutic Monitoring is the use of digital technology to track a patient's health status, treatment progress, and adherence to a provider's plan of care between visits. RTM applies to musculoskeletal, respiratory, and cognitive behavioral therapy monitoring. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved the original RTM CPT® codes for coverage and payment in the 2022 Physician Fee Schedule and expanded the code set in the CY 2026 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule.
For rehab therapy clinics, RTM supports patient progress between visits, encourages adherence to prescribed home exercise programs, and tracks outcomes with digital tools that extend care beyond the clinic.
Musculoskeletal conditions are among the most costly conditions in U.S. healthcare. Research shows that early and adherent physical therapy can lower those costs and improve patient outcomes. Home exercise programs are a standard part of almost every plan of care, yet many patients struggle to complete them on their own, and much of what patients hear in the clinic is forgotten by the time they get home.
RTM helps close the gap between in-clinic visits. Clinicians can see how patients are doing at home and step in before small problems turn into missed sessions or a stalled plan of care.
Digital tools already shape how providers and patients manage care, from electronic medical records (EMRs) in the clinic to step trackers at home. RTM, introduced in January 2022, brings that connection into the plan of care itself. It gives providers and patients remote tools, virtual support, and a way to communicate between in-clinic appointments. Research indicates that communication outside of clinic visits can improve exercise adherence and the amount of exercise performed, thanks to added social support and feedback.
Ongoing communication between the patient and the care team also gives clinicians the information they need to modify the plan of care. By combining subjective and objective measures, RTM paints a clear picture of the patient's status and response to treatment. Adjustments based on RTM data can improve adherence to home exercise programs and support better outcomes.
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According to the rules published by CMS, RTM refers to the collection and monitoring of non-physiological data via an approved medical device.
Non-physiological data includes musculoskeletal system status, therapy adherence, and therapy response. Think pain scores, exercise adherence data, and outcome measures.
Unlike Remote Physiologic Monitoring (RPM), where patient data must be automatically transmitted to the provider by a connected device, RTM data can include information the patient self-reports through the device.
The RTM device must meet the definition of a medical device as defined by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA):
According to CMS, "physicians and other eligible qualified healthcare professionals" can bill for the RTM CPT codes. RTM services are within the scope of practice of several disciplines, including:
In all cases, providers must practice within applicable state and scope of practice laws.
As of January 1, 2026, all RTM codes (including the new codes 98979 and 98985) are designated as "sometimes therapy" services. When furnished by therapists, these services must be provided under a therapy plan of care and require a GP, GO, or GN modifier. Codes 98975, 98979, 98980, and 98981 are subject to the de minimis (10%) standard policy. If services are provided in whole or in part by a PTA or OTA, the CQ or CO modifier must be appended accordingly.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Remote Physiologic Monitoring (RPM) codes helped physicians stay informed about their patients' health status during home quarantine and reduced in-person care. Musculoskeletal and respiratory providers and services did not qualify for those codes.
RPM services are only for physicians and certain non-physician practitioners (such as physician assistants and nurse practitioners) and monitor physiologic parameters such as weight, blood pressure, pulse oximetry, or respiratory flow rate. RPM is typically used for chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease.
RTM was created for the musculoskeletal and respiratory systems, therapy adherence, and therapy response. It covers the review and monitoring of data related to signs, symptoms, and functions of a therapeutic response, and it expands the types of providers who can bill to include physical therapists and occupational therapists.
Note: RPM also received new codes for 2026, including CPT 99445 (device supply for 2-15 days of data transmission) and CPT 99470 (treatment management for 10-19 minutes), paralleling the RTM expansion. RPM and RTM cannot be billed together for the same patient in the same calendar month.
A CPT® code (Current Procedural Terminology code) is a numerical code assigned to a medical procedure or service. Healthcare providers use these codes to describe their services for billing and insurance purposes.
Starting January 1, 2026, the CMS CY 2026 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule added four RTM codes, bringing the code set to ten. Six of the ten apply to musculoskeletal care, and two of those six are new for 2026. The musculoskeletal codes fall into two groups: service codes and treatment management codes.
Service codes cover:
Remote therapeutic monitoring; initial set-up and patient education on use of equipment. This code may be billed once per episode of care. An episode of care begins when the RTM service starts and ends when established treatment goals are met. You cannot bill 98975 if fewer than 2 days of monitoring occurred. (Read our blog on CPT Code 98975)
Remote therapeutic monitoring (e.g., therapy adherence, therapy response, digital therapeutic intervention); device(s) supply for data access or data transmissions to support monitoring of musculoskeletal system, 2 to 15 days in a 30-day period.
This new code lets providers bill for RTM device supply when a patient transmits data for 2 to 15 days within a 30-day period. Before 2026, RTM billing required at least 16 days of data, which often left out short-term patients and lower-intensity monitoring. CPT 98985 creates a billing pathway for patients who engage with RTM for shorter periods. (Read our blog on CPT Code 98985)
Billing Note: Bill either 98985 (2-15 days) or 98977 (16-30 days) based on the number of days of data transmission in a 30-day period. These codes are mutually exclusive and should not be billed together for the same patient in the same 30-day period.
Remote therapeutic monitoring; device(s) supply with scheduled recording(s) and/or programmed alert(s) transmission to monitor musculoskeletal system, 16-30 days in a 30-day period. This code can be billed once every 30 days. (Read our blog on CPT Code 98977)
Treatment management codes cover time spent reviewing, monitoring, and analyzing the patient's data, adjusting the program, and interacting with the patient or caregiver during the calendar month.
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.
Before 2026, a full 20 minutes of treatment management time was required for any reimbursement. CPT 98979 covers patients who receive 10 to 19 minutes of monthly treatment management. (Read our blog on CPT Code 98979)
Billing Note: Bill either 98979 (10-19 minutes) or 98980 (20+ minutes) based on total provider time in a calendar month. Once 20 minutes is reached, bill 98980 only. Do not bill both 98979 and 98980 for the same patient in the same calendar month.
Remote therapeutic monitoring treatment management services, physician/other qualified healthcare professional time in a calendar month requiring at least one interactive communication with the patient/caregiver during the calendar month; first 20 minutes.
This code can be billed once per calendar month for the first 20 minutes of care. For example, if you spend a total of 20 minutes during the month talking with the patient about their therapy program, monitoring their pain data, and reviewing their exercise adherence, you qualify to bill 98980. If you spend 10 to 19 minutes, bill 98979 instead. (Read our blog on CPT Code 98980)
Remote therapeutic monitoring treatment management services, physician/other qualified healthcare professional time in a calendar month requiring at least one interactive communication with the patient/caregiver during the calendar month; each additional 20 minutes.
Bill this code for each full additional 20 minutes of the services described in 98980 within the same calendar month. More than one unit can be billed in a month. For example, 60 total minutes would be billed as one unit of 98980 and two units of 98981. An additional 15 minutes does not qualify. (Read our blog on CPT Code 98981)
Important: CPT 98981 can only be added on top of CPT 98980 (the first 20-minute code). It cannot be added to CPT 98979 (the first 10-minute code).
Providers can bill the treatment management codes (98979, 98980, and 98981) only if at least one interactive communication with the patient or caregiver happens during the calendar month. CMS has adopted the CPT code book language stating that these codes "require a live, interactive communication with the patient/caregiver." Text messages, chat, and email do not qualify. The interactive communication counts toward total time, but it does not need to make up all of the reported time. In other words, a real-time phone call, video call, or in-person conversation is required, but it does not have to cover the full billed time.
The CY 2026 Final Rule added two new musculoskeletal RTM codes, and CMS later revised the practice expense values for the device supply codes, which raised their payment. The table below shows national average 2026 Medicare payments for all six musculoskeletal RTM codes.
| CPT Code | Description | Billing Frequency | 2025 Avg Payment | 2026 Avg Payment* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Codes | ||||
| 98975 | Initial set-up and patient education on use of equipment | Once per episode | $19.73 | $21.71 |
| 98985NEW 2026 | Supply of device to monitor MSK system status, 2-15 days of data in a 30-day period | Once per 30 days | NEW | ~$51.00 |
| 98977 | Supply of device to monitor MSK system status, 16-30 days of data in a 30-day period | Once per 30 days | $43.02 | $51.44 |
| Treatment Management Codes | ||||
| 98979NEW 2026 | Treatment management services, 10-19 minutes in a calendar month (requires 1 real-time interactive communication) | Once per month | NEW | $26.39 |
| 98980 | Treatment management services, first 20 minutes in a calendar month (requires 1 real-time interactive communication) | Once per month | $50.14 | $54.11 |
| 98981 | Treatment management services, each additional 20 minutes in a calendar month (add-on to 98980 only) | Each additional 20 min, per calendar month | $39.14 | $41.42 |
*2026 national average Medicare payment rates for non-facility, non-APM providers, reflecting CMS's revised 2026 practice expense values. Actual payments vary by locality. Check the CMS Physician Fee Schedule Look-Up Tool for your Medicare Administrative Contractor.
Yes. Medicare Part B covers Remote Therapeutic Monitoring. CMS approved the original RTM CPT codes for coverage and payment in the 2022 Physician Fee Schedule and expanded the code set in the CY 2026 Final Rule. Medicare Advantage, commercial, and state Medicaid coverage varies by plan and region.
All RTM codes are designated "sometimes therapy" services. When furnished under an outpatient therapy plan of care, they count toward the annual therapy dollar threshold, but the Multiple Procedure Payment Reduction (MPPR) policy does not apply. All RTM codes remain on the CMS New Technology List through April 2030.
Because commercial coverage varies, request a demo to review which payers in your market reimburse RTM and what the return looks like for your patient volume.
RTM gives providers insight into a patient's health status beyond in-clinic appointments. Providers can see patient progress between visits, track adherence to home exercise programs, and use that data to show value and support outcomes-based reporting.
RTM meets patients where they are. Patients can receive care from home, which helps those with access barriers, such as living in rural areas or having trouble attending regularly scheduled appointments.
RTM gives patients better access to their health data and care plan, a continuous connection to their care team, and easy-to-follow digital home programs. At U.S. Physical Therapy, patients using Limber RTM completed 3.3x more home exercise sessions than patients on standard home exercise programs alone (n=1,568).
At Athletico Physical Therapy, patients using RTM improved pain and function outcomes by more than 30% compared with matched patients not using RTM (n=4,081 RTM patients vs. 28,916 matched controls). Read the case study.
RTM creates more opportunities for communication, which strengthens the patient-provider relationship. Regular contact and encouragement between visits can help patients work through barriers to adherence and build lasting rapport with their clinician.
When RTM improves adherence and outcomes, it also creates a reimbursable service line for the work clinicians already do between visits. The 2026 addition of CPT codes 98985 and 98979 lets clinics bill for shorter monitoring periods and partial-month management that the 16-day and 20-minute thresholds previously excluded.
RTM can help lower downstream healthcare costs by making it easier to track existing health issues, spot new problems early, and triage patients appropriately. Early intervention can help patients avoid unnecessary surgeries, imaging, opioids, emergency room visits, and hospitalizations.
Choosing the right RTM solution affects patient care, clinician workload, and outcomes. Here are four questions to ask when evaluating RTM technology and services for your practice.
Look for a platform that fits your organization's requirements as it grows. Whether you have five providers or thousands, the technology should adjust to support your clinicians and your patients.
Clinicians and patients will only use a remote monitoring platform that is easy to work with. The RTM service you choose should make it simple for providers to access real-time data and monitor patient progress without adding steps to their day.
Patient privacy and data security are essential. The RTM service and system you choose must follow strict privacy protocols and meet industry standards such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act).
RTM works best when it connects with the rest of the care team. A well-integrated system streamlines workflows, improves care coordination, and makes communication between patients and clinicians easier, all of which support better outcomes.
On October 31, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Calendar Year 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Final Rule. It brings the most significant updates to Remote Therapeutic Monitoring since RTM was introduced in 2022, making the service more flexible and accessible for rehab therapy providers.
Four new CPT codes. Two apply to musculoskeletal care: 98985 (device supply, 2-15 days) and 98979 (treatment management, 10-19 minutes). The other two are 2-15 day device supply codes for respiratory (CPT 98984) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CPT 98986) monitoring.
Higher reimbursement for several existing RTM CPT codes, plus an early-2026 CMS revision that raised payment for the device supply codes. The payment environment supports digital health and hybrid care adoption.
Lower billing thresholds that match how patients engage in practice. Before 2026, RTM billing required 16 or more days of data in a 30-day period and at least 20 minutes of provider management time. The new codes allow billing for as few as 2 days of monitoring and 10 minutes of management time.
For rehab therapy practices, these updates mean more billing flexibility, reimbursement that better reflects real patient interactions, and a stronger case for building RTM and hybrid care into the plan of care. Read our detailed breakdown of the 2026 CMS Final Rule and RTM.
Limber's RTM platform connects Remote Therapeutic Monitoring with home exercise programs and outcomes collection, so your clinicians can see patient progress between visits and act on it in one workflow. With the expanded 2026 RTM codes in effect, it's a practical time to start or scale RTM in your practice. Request a demo to see how it works.
Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) is a Medicare-covered service in which physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and physicians use an FDA-defined medical device to track non-physiological patient data, such as pain scores, exercise adherence, and therapy response, between visits, then review that data and adjust the plan of care.
Yes. Medicare has covered Remote Therapeutic Monitoring since the 2022 Physician Fee Schedule, and the CY 2026 Final Rule expanded the code set to ten CPT codes, six of which apply to musculoskeletal care. Medicare Advantage and commercial coverage varies by plan.
National average 2026 Medicare payments for the six musculoskeletal RTM codes are $21.71 for setup and education (98975), about $51.00 for 2-15 days of device supply (98985), $51.44 for 16-30 days of device supply (98977), $26.39 for 10-19 minutes of treatment management (98979), $54.11 for the first 20 minutes (98980), and $41.42 for each additional 20 minutes (98981). Actual payments vary by locality.
A provider supplies the patient with an FDA-defined medical device, educates them on its use, then monitors non-physiological data such as pain scores, exercise adherence, and outcome measures between visits. The provider reviews that data monthly and holds at least one live interactive communication with the patient to bill treatment management.
Physicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists can bill RTM codes, subject to state scope of practice law. When services are furnished in whole or part by a PTA or OTA, the CQ or CO modifier applies, and the de minimis standard applies to codes 98975, 98979, 98980, and 98981.
RTM monitors non-physiological data for musculoskeletal, respiratory, and cognitive behavioral therapy care, including patient self-reported data, and can be billed by therapists. RPM monitors physiologic data such as blood pressure or weight, requires automatic device transmission, and is limited to physicians and certain non-physician practitioners. The two cannot be billed for the same patient in the same calendar month.
As few as two. Before 2026, RTM device supply required at least 16 days of data in a 30-day period. New code 98985 covers 2 to 15 days, and 98977 covers 16 to 30 days. The two are mutually exclusive.
