As the demand for telehealth grows among healthcare organizations and patients, the opportunities for reimbursement have expanded. In one of the most recent updates, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized guidelines for new remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM) CPT codes.
Remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM) is similar to remote patient monitoring (RPM), but it covers two systems: respiratory and musculoskeletal.
In this cheat sheet, you’ll find a quick and easy guide to the five primary remote therapeutic monitoring CPT codes (RTM CPT codes) that are most relevant to your remote care program.
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Remote Therapeutic Monitoring CPT Codes |
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CPT 98975 |
Initial set-up & patient education on use of equipment for respiratory system status and musculoskeletal system status. |
$19.65 |
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CPT 98976* |
Supply of RTM device(s) with scheduled recording and/or programmed alert transmission to monitor musculoskeletal system for each 30 day period. (Respiratory) |
$46.83 |
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CPT 98977** |
Supply of RTM device(s) with scheduled recording and/or programmed alert transmission to monitor musculoskeletal system for each 30 day period. (Musculoskeletal) |
$46.83 |
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CPT 98980 |
First 20 minutes of RTM services provided by clinical staff, MD or QHCP over a 30-day period. Requires at least one interactive communication within the calendar month. |
$49.78 |
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CPT 98981 |
Each additional 20 minutes of RTM services provided by clinical staff, MD, or QHCP during a 30-day period. Requires at least one interactive communication within the calendar month. |
$39.30 |
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*Device monitoring respiratory system status
**Device monitoring musculoskeletal system status
$Pricing amounts vary from area to area and are subject to change.
CPT Code 98975
Description: Remote therapeutic monitoring (e.g., respiratory system status, musculoskeletal system status, therapy adherence, therapy response); initial set-up and patient education on use of equipment.
CPT Code 98975 is a one-time billable code for the initial set-up and patient education on use of the equipment. This code requires 16 days of collected data/measures which can be self-reported.
CPT Code 98976 (Respiratory)
Description: Remote therapeutic monitoring (e.g., respiratory system status, musculoskeletal system status, therapy adherence, therapy response); device(s) supply with scheduled (e.g., daily) recording(s) and/or programmed alert(s) transmission to monitor respiratory system, each 30 days.
CPT Code 98976 is billable once every 30 days and requires 16 days of collected data/measures on respiratory system status which can be self-reported.
CPT Code 98977 (Musculoskeletal)
Description: Remote therapeutic monitoring (e.g., respiratory system status, musculoskeletal system status, therapy adherence, therapy response); device(s) supply with scheduled (e.g., daily) recording(s) and/or programmed alert(s) transmission to monitor musculoskeletal system, each 30 days
CPT Code 98977 is billable once every 30 days and requires 16 days of collected data/measures on musculoskeletal system status which can be self-reported.
CPT Code 98980
Description: Remote therapeutic monitoring treatment management services, physician/ other qualified health care professional time in a calendar month requiring at least one interactive communication with the patient/caregiver during the calendar month; first 20 minutes
CPT Code 98980 is a time-based code, billable once every 30 days, that covers the first 20 minutes of care management and interactive communication by clinical staff, MD or QHCP. This code requires at least one interactive communication within the calendar month.
CPT Code 98981
Description: Remote therapeutic monitoring treatment management services, physician/other qualified health care professional time in a calendar month requiring at least one interactive communication with the patient/caregiver during the calendar month; each additional 20 minutes (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
CPT Code 98981 is a time-based code that covers every additional 20 minutes of care management and interactive communication by clinical staff, MD or QHCP. This code requires at least one interactive communication within the calendar month.
Want to learn more? Download our free, in-depth CPT billing guide today!
RTM CPT Code FAQs
1. How is RTM different from RPM?
What makes RTM different from RPM is that patients are able to self-report in an RTM program. Bluetooth active days are not required, but 16 days of collected data and measures are required.
2. Can RTM and RPM be billed together?
No. At this time, RTM and RPM cannot be billed together. CMS has received comments advising that these two services are different and should be able to be billed together, but this is not the case at the current time.
3. What devices are used for RTM?
Any device that meets the FDA’s definition of a “medical device” can be used for RTM but the most commonly used devices are the weight scale and spirometer.
4. Who can provide RTM services?
Physical therapists (PTs), occupational therapists (OTs), and speech-language pathologists can provide RTM services.
All of the RTM CPT codes can also be designated as “sometimes therapy” to permit physicians and certain Nonphysician Practitioners (NPPs), including nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and clinical nurse specialists to perform RTM services.
All RTM services can be provided under general supervision.
HRS Helps Healthcare Providers Get Reimbursement
We have a host of resources on reimbursement and RTM billing modeled after best practices and established from working with our healthcare partners.
You can reach out to our Revenue Cycle Management team for guidance on how to get or optimize reimbursement for your RPM program. Or, you can try our reimbursement calculator to see what your potential reimbursement might be for your programs.
