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2026 RTM CPT Codes for PT & OT: 98979, 98985 & Billing Changes
Updated: Sep 12
Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) is the use of medical devices to collect non-physiological data, such as therapy adherence and pain levels, from patients at home. Despite its potential, many practices have resisted launching RTM programs, citing rigid rules that often resulted in significant clinical effort going unreimbursed.
What changed with RTM billing in 2026?
Beginning January 1, 2026, new RTM CPT codes allow PT and OT practices to bill certain Remote Therapeutic Monitoring services at lower thresholds. CPT 98985 covers musculoskeletal device monitoring for 2–15 days in a 30-day period, while CPT 98979 covers the first 10 minutes of RTM treatment management when its requirements are met. Existing RTM codes continue to cover higher monitoring and management thresholds.
The 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) has changed the landscape, introducing new CPT codes with substantially lower billing thresholds. For physical and occupational therapists, these updates transform RTM from a complex administrative burden into a practical, viable revenue stream. These updates are a positive development, particularly when viewed alongside other fee schedule changes that can feel less favorable. You can read more about the broader fee schedule impacts elsewhere.
What Changed: Tiered Billing Eliminates the "Revenue Cliff"
Before 2026, RTM billing operated on an all or nothing model. To receive payment for monitoring a musculoskeletal patient, your practice had to collect device data for at least 16 days in a 30 day period. To receive payment for managing that data, your team had to document at least 20 minutes of time and have one interactive communication. If a patient used their device for 15 days or you spent 19 minutes on care management, your practice received zero reimbursement.
The 2026 rule, which became effective on January 1, created tiered billing. This allows practices to bill for partial compliance, recovering revenue for work previously performed for free.
The New Tiered Codes
1. Lower Data Thresholds: Device Supply (e.g., MSK) Practices can now bill for shorter monitoring durations when a patient fails to reach the classic 16 day mark.
New Tier CPT 98985 (NEW for 2026): Device supply for monitoring of musculoskeletal system, 2–15 days in a 30 day period. This is approximately half the reimbursement of the full duration code.
Classic Tier CPT 98977 (Existing): Device supply for monitoring of musculoskeletal system, 16 or more days in a 30 day period.
2. Lower Time Thresholds: Treatment Management Practices can also receive compensation for low intensity clinical engagement.
New Tier CPT 98979 (NEW for 2026): RTM treatment management, first 10 minutes (10–19 minutes total) per calendar month, requiring at least 1 real-time interactive communication.
Classic Tier CPT 98980 (Existing): RTM treatment management, first 20 minutes (20 or more minutes total) per calendar month, requiring at least 1 real-time interactive communication.
RTM requirement | Before 2026 | 2026 option |
Musculoskeletal device data | 16+ days | 2–15 days: 98985 |
Treatment management | 20+ minutes | 10–19 minutes: 98979 |
Traditional higher threshold | Existing RTM codes | Still available when requirements are met |
Who Qualifies and What is Required
RTM is designed to support the treatment plan of patients with a variety of qualifying conditions, primarily in the musculoskeletal and respiratory systems.
Basic Requirements to Bill
Supervision: Services can be performed under general supervision. This means your billing provider does not need to be in the room or even the building, a significant operational benefit. PT and OT Assistants can perform the monitoring, though their time is subject to de minimis rules.
Device: The patient must use a non-physiological medical device, which includes many FDA defined digital therapeutics and software programs used for things like tracking Home Exercise Program adherence or pain scores.
Data Transmission: The device data must be transmitted from the patient to the practice, not manually logged. The new codes 98985 and 98979 require documented proof that data was transmitted for at least 2 days and that at least 10 minutes was spent reviewing it, respectively.
Documentation: You must maintain records showing the device type, the dates and specific data transmitted, and a log of the time clinical staff spent on management. Each monthly billing instance for management requires documentation of the mandatory interactive communication.
Simple Revenue Math
RTM is scalable and can create predictable monthly income. The exact value of a code varies by region, so the following is illustrative and not a guarantee.
Let's assume your practice launches a program for chronic musculoskeletal patients. In your first three months, you enroll 20 patients. Using national averages:
Patient Setup (One-time): CPT 98975 ~ $50 x 20 patients = $1,000 (Setup)
Low Engagement (Example 1): 8 patients interact minimal time but meet thresholds: Device Supply (CPT 98985 ~$50) + Management (CPT 98979 ~$25). Total: ~$75.
8 patients x $75 = $600 monthly / $7,200 annual
Full Engagement (Example 2): 12 patients are highly active: Device Supply (CPT 98977 ~$50) + Management (CPT 98980 ~$50). Total: ~$100.
12 patients x $100 = $1,200 monthly / $14,400 annual
With just 20 active patients, this program could generate over $21,000 in its first year in new revenue. Because you can now bill for patients who don't meet full compliance, your practice's time and resources are always billable.
Don't Leave Related Opportunities on the Table
While optimizing your RTM code program, remember that other recent billing opportunities may also be under utilized. The Caregiver Training Codes (CPT 97550–97552) were introduced in the 2024 CMS Final Rule. These codes allow therapists to bill for training a caregiver without the patient present, a critical service for many neurological or cognitive condition plans. Despite their value, reports suggest these codes are still under billed. Consider integrating caregiver training as a complementary part of your RTM or in person care management strategies.
Implementing RTM can be confusing. We provide expert Billing Oversight and Reimbursement Services to help you set up compliant, efficient, and profitable programs.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2026 RTM Billing Codes
What are the new RTM CPT codes for 2026?
For 2026, CMS added new Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) codes that create lower billing thresholds for certain services. For physical therapy and occupational therapy practices, two of the most relevant additions are CPT 98985 and CPT 98979.
CPT 98985 addresses musculoskeletal RTM device supply and data transmission when monitoring occurs for 2–15 days in a 30-day period. CPT 98979 provides a treatment-management option beginning with the first 10 minutes of qualifying RTM management services in a calendar month.
These additions can make RTM more practical for patients who do not reach the higher thresholds associated with the existing RTM codes.
What is CPT code 98985?
CPT 98985 is a new 2026 Remote Therapeutic Monitoring code for musculoskeletal system device supply and data transmission when monitoring occurs for 2–15 days during a 30-day period.
This is particularly relevant to PT and OT practices because the existing musculoskeletal RTM device-supply code, CPT 98977, generally applies when the required data is collected for at least 16 days during a 30-day period.
The new code creates a lower monitoring tier rather than making the 16-day threshold the only available option.
What is the difference between CPT 98977 and CPT 98985?
The primary difference is the number of days of RTM data collected during a 30-day period.
CPT 98985 applies to the new lower 2–15 day musculoskeletal monitoring tier, while CPT 98977 continues to address the higher monitoring threshold when its requirements are met.
For PT and OT practices, this means a patient who does not reach 16 days of qualifying monitoring may no longer automatically fall outside the RTM device-supply coding structure.
Practices should still verify that all other applicable CPT, Medicare, payer, device, documentation, and billing requirements are satisfied.
What is CPT code 98979?
CPT 98979 is a new RTM treatment-management code for 2026. It covers the first completed 10 minutes of qualifying Remote Therapeutic Monitoring treatment-management services during a calendar month.
The service includes the required interactive communication with the patient or caregiver.
The addition creates a lower time tier for RTM management, which is significant because the existing treatment-management structure begins at a higher time threshold.
How many minutes are required for RTM treatment management in 2026?
Beginning in 2026, the RTM treatment-management coding structure includes an option beginning at 10 minutes of qualifying management time during a calendar month through CPT 98979.
Which code is appropriate depends on the total qualifying time, interactive-communication requirements, and other applicable billing rules.
Practices should document RTM management time carefully rather than selecting a code based simply on the fact that staff interacted with a patient during the month.
How many days of RTM monitoring are required in 2026?
For musculoskeletal RTM, the 2026 coding structure now includes CPT 98985 for 2–15 days of qualifying monitoring during a 30-day period.
The existing higher-tier code remains relevant when the patient reaches its required monitoring threshold.
This change is important for PT and OT practices because patients with less frequent device use may now fit within a defined RTM billing tier when all other requirements are met.
Can physical therapists bill the new RTM codes?
Physical therapists may furnish and bill qualifying RTM services when Medicare's applicable requirements are satisfied.
RTM services furnished by PTs are considered therapy services for Medicare purposes, so practices also need to account for applicable therapy-plan, documentation, modifier, supervision, and billing requirements.
Simply collecting patient data is not enough by itself to make an RTM service billable.
Can occupational therapists bill RTM?
Yes. Occupational therapists can furnish qualifying RTM services when the applicable requirements are met.
For Medicare claims, OT-furnished RTM services are treated as therapy services and must follow the applicable Medicare therapy billing and documentation requirements.
Practices should also confirm coverage and billing policies for commercial payers rather than assuming every payer follows Medicare's RTM rules.
Does Medicare cover CPT 98979 and CPT 98985 in 2026?
CMS incorporated the new RTM codes into its 2026 Medicare therapy coding framework. However, having a recognized CPT code does not mean every patient interaction or monitoring program automatically qualifies for reimbursement.
Medical necessity, the type of monitoring technology used, documentation, treatment-plan requirements, qualifying time or monitoring thresholds, and other Medicare rules still matter.
Commercial payer policies can also differ from Medicare.
Do PT and OT practices need to use GP or GO modifiers with RTM?
When RTM services are furnished as Medicare therapy services, the applicable therapy modifier may be required.
Generally, GP identifies services furnished under a physical therapy plan of care, while
GO identifies services furnished under an occupational therapy plan of care.
Practices should also evaluate whether assistant-related modifiers or other Medicare billing requirements apply based on who furnished the service.
Does the patient need an RTM device or app?
RTM billing has specific technology and device requirements. Using a generic patient portal, sending occasional text messages, or simply asking a patient how their home exercise program is going does not automatically create a billable RTM service.
Before implementing RTM, practices should confirm that their technology, data collection, clinical workflow, documentation, and billing process satisfy the requirements of the specific RTM codes they intend to bill.
Are commercial insurance companies required to cover the new RTM codes?
No. A new CPT code does not guarantee that every commercial insurance plan will reimburse it.
Commercial payers can establish their own coverage policies, reimbursement rates, authorization requirements, and billing rules.
PT and OT practices considering RTM should verify payer-specific coverage rather than assuming Medicare's approach applies across their entire payer mix.
Is RTM worth implementing in a PT or OT practice in 2026?
Potentially — but the answer depends on the practice.
The new lower billing thresholds can make RTM financially viable for more patients, but reimbursement is only one part of the calculation. Practices should also consider payer coverage, expected patient participation, technology costs, staff time, documentation burden, compliance requirements, and actual reimbursement rates.
Before rolling RTM out broadly, model the economics using your own payer mix and patient population.
Could RTM actually make sense for your practice?
The new 2026 RTM codes create more opportunities to bill for remote monitoring — but adding a billable code doesn't automatically make RTM profitable.
Before you build a new workflow around it, look at the numbers.
Upstate Healthcare Administration can help you evaluate RTM reimbursement across your payer mix, understand what your contracts actually pay, and determine whether the opportunity justifies the technology, staff time, and administrative work required to implement it.
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