Updated July 2026 — includes the two new codes (98985 and 98979) introduced in the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule.

Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) lets physical therapy practices bill for the care that happens between visits — monitoring home exercise adherence, reviewing patient-reported data, and adjusting treatment remotely. In 2026, CMS expanded the RTM code family with two new codes that make RTM billable for shorter episodes and lighter-touch monitoring, closing the biggest gaps in the original code set.

This guide covers every RTM CPT code, current national Medicare rates, documentation requirements, and how the new codes change your billing strategy.

2026 RTM CPT Codes at a Glance

*National averages under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. Actual payment varies by locality (GPCI), payer contract, and MAC policy. Always verify rates with your Medicare Administrative Contractor.

What Changed in 2026: Codes 98985 and 98979

Before 2026, RTM had an all-or-nothing problem. You needed 16 or more days of patient data in a 30-day period to bill device supply (98977), and 20 or more minutes of management time to bill 98980. A patient discharged after three weeks, or a month where you spent 15 minutes reviewing data, generated zero RTM revenue — even though real monitoring work happened.

The 2026 fee schedule fixes both gaps:

CPT 98985 — Short-Period Device Supply (2–15 days)

98985 reimburses musculoskeletal RTM device supply when the patient transmits data on 2 to 15 days within a 30-day period, at roughly $51. It is mutually exclusive with 98977 in the same 30 days — you bill one or the other depending on how many days of data you collected. This makes short episodes of care, late-starting patients, and partial-adherence months billable for the first time. Read the full 98985 breakdown.

CPT 98979 — Brief Treatment Management (10–19 minutes)

98979 covers the first 10 to 19 minutes of RTM treatment management in a calendar month, at roughly $26, and requires at least one real-time interactive communication with the patient or caregiver. Months that previously fell short of the 20-minute threshold for 98980 are now billable.

Note: CMS designates 98979, 98984, and 98985 as “sometimes therapy” services beginning January 1, 2026 — apply the appropriate therapy modifier (GP for PT plans of care) as you do with the rest of the RTM family.

The Core Codes, Explained

CPT 98975 — Setup and Patient Education

Billed once per episode of care when you onboard the patient: configuring the device or app, and educating them on its use. Reimburses about $22. Full 98975 guide.

CPT 98977 — Musculoskeletal Device Supply (16–30 days)

The workhorse device code for PT. Requires the patient to transmit musculoskeletal data (exercise adherence, pain scores, function) on at least 16 days in a 30-day period. About $40 per 30-day cycle. Full 98977 guide.

CPT 98980 and 98981 — Treatment Management

98980 covers the first 20 minutes of monthly management time — reviewing data, adjusting the plan, communicating with the patient — and requires at least one interactive (phone or video) communication during the month. It pays about $54. Each additional 20 minutes bills under 98981 at about $41. 98980 guide · 98981 guide.

What a Typical Patient Month Looks Like

Engaged patient (20 days of data, 25 minutes of management): 98977 ($40) + 98980 ($54) = ~$94. Add 98975 ($22) in the first month.

Partially engaged patient (10 days of data, 15 minutes of management) — previously $0: 98985 ($51) + 98979 ($26) = ~$77. This is the 2026 headline: patients who used to generate nothing now cover most of an engaged patient’s revenue.

Want numbers for your own caseload? Use our free RTM revenue calculator.

Documentation Requirements

For every RTM claim, your records should support: the medical necessity of monitoring, the device/software meeting the FDA’s “software as a medical device” definition, the number of days of data transmission (for supply codes), cumulative management time with dates and activities (for management codes), and the interactive communication (date, mode, participant). Most denials trace back to day-counts and time logs — this is exactly what RTM software should track automatically, so you can export supporting documentation when a payer asks.

Who Can Bill RTM?

RTM was designed for practitioners who can’t bill Remote Physiological Monitoring (RPM) E/M codes — physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists bill RTM under their own plans of care. More on eligible providers, and how RTM and RPM interact.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bill 98977 and 98985 in the same month?

No — they’re mutually exclusive within the same 30-day period. Count the days of data transmission: 2–15 days bills 98985; 16–30 days bills 98977.

Do the new codes require an interactive communication?

98979 (management) does — at least one real-time interaction per month, same as 98980. Device supply codes (98977, 98985) do not.

Is RTM only for Medicare?

No. Many commercial payers reimburse RTM, though rates and rules vary — verify with each contract.

What software do I need?

The device supply codes require software that qualifies as a medical device and captures patient data automatically. That’s what MovementRx is built for — HEP delivery, adherence tracking, day-count and time-log documentation, and billing-ready monthly reports.

Ready to make RTM revenue real? MovementRx tracks every billable day and minute automatically. Request a demo or see pricing.