If you're billing for Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM), understanding the correct use of RTM CPT codes is essential for accurate reimbursement and compliance. Updated for 2026, this guide breaks down the CPT codes most relevant to musculoskeletal (MSK) care, including the two new codes introduced in the CMS CY2026 Final Rule, and provides tips for documentation and billing success.
Starting January 1, 2026, CMS finalized significant updates that expand how rehab therapy practices can deliver and bill for Remote Therapeutic Monitoring. These changes represent the most significant evolution of RTM since its introduction in 2022, making it more flexible, more accessible, and more financially rewarding for rehab therapy providers.
The 2026 CMS Final Rule includes:
Previously, RTM billing required 16+ days of data collection within a 30-day period and a minimum of 20 minutes of provider management time per calendar month. These thresholds often excluded short-term patients or lower-intensity monitoring. The new codes address that gap, enabling clinics to bill for shorter monitoring durations and partial-month management.
A CPT code (Current Procedural Terminology code) is a numerical code assigned to each medical procedure and service. These codes are used by healthcare providers to describe the services they provide to patients for billing and insurance purposes.
There are now eight CPT codes for RTM relevant to musculoskeletal conditions (up from six). Six are commonly used for MSK monitoring:
Service Codes:
Treatment Management Codes:
Other RTM codes (98976, 98984, 98978, 98986) cover respiratory system monitoring and cognitive behavioral therapy.
The RTM CPT codes are categorized into two main types:
Description: Remote therapeutic monitoring (e.g., therapy adherence, therapy response, digital therapeutic intervention); initial set-up and patient education on use of equipment
Billing Frequency: 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.
Important: You cannot bill code 98975 if less than 2 days of monitoring occurred.
2026 National Average Payment: $21.71 (Non-APM) / $21.82 (APM)
2025 Payment: $19.73
Description: Remote therapeutic monitoring; device(s) supply for data access or data transmissions to support monitoring of musculoskeletal system, 2 to 15 days in a 30-day period
Billing Frequency: This code can be billed once each 30-day period when the patient has between 2 and 15 days of data transmission.
Billing Note: Bill either 98985 (2-15 days) OR 98977 (16-30 days) based on the number of data transmissions that occur during 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.
2026 National Average Payment: $40.08 (Non-APM) / $40.28 (APM)
This is a new code for 2026
Description: Remote therapeutic monitoring; device(s) supply for data access or data transmissions to support monitoring of musculoskeletal system, 16-30 days in a 30-day period
Billing Frequency: This code can be billed once each 30-day period. If the patient continues to be actively involved in the RTM service and you continue to provide the "medical device," you may continue to bill this code in subsequent 30-day periods.
Important: You cannot bill code 98977 if less than 16 days of monitoring occurred during the 30-day period.
2026 National Average Payment: $40.08 (Non-APM) / $40.28 (APM)
2025 Payment: $43.02
Description: Remote therapeutic monitoring treatment management services, physician or other qualified health care professional time in a calendar month requiring at least one real-time interactive communication with the patient or caregiver during the calendar month; first 10 minutes
Billing Frequency: This code can be billed once per calendar month for 10-19 minutes of care provided to the patient.
Billing Note: Bill either 98979 (10-19 minutes) OR 98980 (20+ minutes) based on total provider time in a calendar month. Once 20 minutes of treatment management time is reached, bill 98980 only. Do not bill both 98979 and 98980 for the same patient in the same calendar month.
2026 National Average Payment: $26.39 (Non-APM) / $26.52 (APM)
This is a new code for 2026
Description: Remote therapeutic monitoring treatment management services; first 20 minutes of qualified provider time per calendar month (includes one real-time interactive communication)
Billing Frequency: This code can be billed once per calendar month for the first 20 minutes of care provided to the patient. For instance, if you perform a total of 20 minutes during the month speaking directly with the patient regarding their therapy program, monitoring their pain level data, and reviewing their exercise compliance, you qualify to bill this code. However, if you perform only 19 minutes of these services, you do not qualify (use 98979 instead).
2026 National Average Payment: $54.11 (Non-APM) / $54.38 (APM)
2025 Payment: $50.14
Description: Remote therapeutic monitoring treatment management services; each additional 20 minutes
Billing Frequency: This code can be billed if you perform additional services as outlined in code 98980 beyond the initial 20 minutes during the same calendar month. For instance, if you perform an additional 22 minutes answering the patient's questions and reviewing and analyzing data, you qualify to bill this code. However, if you only perform an additional 15 minutes of the services, you do not qualify.
2026 National Average Payment: $41.42 (Non-APM) / $41.63 (APM)
2025 Payment: $39.14
For 2026, CMS introduced two separate conversion factors as required by statute:
Recent legislation provides a +2.5% payment increase for 2026, along with an estimated +0.49% adjustment to account for changes in work Relative Value Units (RVUs).
As a result, the 2026 conversion factor is projected at:
These updates indicate a favorable payment environment for RTM and hybrid care adoption in 2026.
You are only eligible to bill codes 98979, 98980, and 98981 if at least one "interactive communication" with the patient is performed during the calendar month.
According to CMS, "interactive communication" refers to "at a minimum, a real-time synchronous, two-way audio interaction that is capable of being enhanced with video or other kinds of data transmission." In other words, a phone or video call. This interactive communication must occur with the patient/caregiver within the first 10 or 20 minutes each month (depending on which code you're billing).
Acceptable forms of interactive communication include:
Note: Texting and email communication would not qualify as interactive communication since they are not considered real-time synchronous.
According to CMS, the RTM CPT codes can be billed by "physicians and other eligible qualified healthcare professionals." RTM services are within the scope of practice of several disciplines, including:
In all cases, providers must practice in accordance with applicable state and scope of practice laws.
Important: The de minimis standard applies to CPT codes 98975, 98979, 98980, and 98981 if provided in whole or in part by a PTA or an OTA. The de minimis standard does not apply to CPT codes 98985 and 98977.
At the inception of RTM, the codes were recognized solely by traditional Medicare and many Medicare Advantage plans. However, over time, there has been adoption from many commercial payors and state Medicaid programs.
CMS has designated the RTM codes as "sometimes therapy" codes, which means when provided under an outpatient therapy plan of care, these services will count towards the annual therapy dollar threshold, but the Multiple Procedure Payment Reduction (MPPR) policy will not apply.
Important Billing Clarification:
CPT codes 98985 and 98977 are billed based on a 30-day period (rolling window from the start of monitoring).
CPT codes 98979, 98980, and 98981 are billed at the end of each calendar month.
This means it's possible to bill 98979 or 98980/98981 in a calendar month without being able to bill 98985 or 98977 due to the "30-day period" vs. "calendar month" distinction.
To learn more about the RTM codes, recognized payors, and better understand the reimbursement ROI for your organization, Reserve a Demo of Limber Health's advanced RTM platform, designed to seamlessly integrate with your clinic's workflow to improve patient engagement and outcomes.
Disclaimer: The Medicare billing advice provided here is solely for informational purposes and represents our interpretation of the Medicare guidelines. We strongly advise healthcare providers to consult the official Medicare guidelines and regulations, as they are subject to change and may differ from our interpretation. Providers are ultimately responsible for ensuring compliance with Medicare billing guidelines, and any decisions made based on the information provided here are made at their own risk.
Last Updated: January 2026
