RTM CPT codes: a quick reference for rehab clinicians
Every Remote Therapeutic Monitoring code Medicare recognizes for 2026 — what each covers in plain words, the data-day and time thresholds, how often it can be billed, and who can bill it. Sourced to CMS rulemaking and guidance.
Verify before you bill. This is an educational summary of Medicare rules, not billing, coding, or legal advice. Confirm current requirements with your Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC), each commercial payer, and your state practice act. Commercial plans set their own RTM policies. Information is current as of October 6, 2026.
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Applies to CY 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
New to RTM? Start with the RTM guide for the care model and workflow, or RTM 101 for rehab clinicians for the plain-language background. This page is the code-level companion.
Three kinds of RTM code
98975
Initial set-up and patient education on the equipment. Not specific to any body system.
98984–98986 · 98976–98978
Supplying the device for data access or transmission, per 30-day period, by body system — with a 2–15 day and a 16–30 day version of each. Rehab uses the musculoskeletal pair, 98985 / 98977.
98979 · 98980 · 98981
Practitioner time per calendar month reviewing data and managing the patient, with at least one real-time interactive communication: first 10 minutes, first 20 minutes, or each additional 20.
CMS describes RTM as "the monitoring of adherence to at-home therapeutic interventions," with distinct device-supply codes for the respiratory system, cognitive behavioral therapy, and the musculoskeletal system (source 1).
RTM CPT codes for 2026
Grouped by type. Musculoskeletal device codes are listed first because they are the ones most rehab practices use.
| Code | What it covers | Data / time requirement | Billing frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98975Setup | Initial set-up and patient education on use of the equipment. | Before 2026, reportable only after at least 16 days of monitoring (APTA). For 2026, CMS adopted all CPT 2026 parenthetical changes for 98975, which commenters described as requiring 2 days of monitoring in a 30-day period instead of 16. | Once per episode of care (APTA). | Not system-specific. Subject to the CQ/CO modifier policy when furnished in whole or in part by a PTA/OTA. [1][2][7] |
| 98985New 2026Device supply | Device supply for data access or transmission — musculoskeletal system, short month. | 2–15 days of data in a 30-day period. | Each 30-day period; bill this OR 98977, never both. | New for 2026. Most relevant to rehab. No CQ/CO modifier (device code). [1][2] |
| 98977Revised 2026Device supply | Device supply for data access or transmission — musculoskeletal system, full month. | 16–30 days of data in a 30-day period. | Each 30-day period; bill this OR 98985, never both. | Descriptor revised for 2026 to state the 16–30 day range. No CQ/CO modifier (device code). [1][2] |
| 98984New 2026Device supply | Device supply — respiratory system, short month. | 2–15 days of data in a 30-day period. | Each 30-day period; bill this OR 98976. | New for 2026. [1][2] |
| 98976Revised 2026Device supply | Device supply — respiratory system, full month. | 16–30 days of data in a 30-day period. | Each 30-day period; bill this OR 98984. | Descriptor revised for 2026 to state the 16–30 day range. [1][2] |
| 98986New 2026Device supply | Device supply — cognitive behavioral therapy, short month. | 2–15 days of data in a 30-day period. | Each 30-day period; bill this OR 98978. | New for 2026. Contractor-priced (your MAC sets the payment). Not among the RTM codes CMS designates “sometimes therapy.” [1] |
| 98978Revised 2026Device supply | Device supply — cognitive behavioral therapy, full month. | 16–30 days of data in a 30-day period. | Each 30-day period; bill this OR 98986. | Descriptor revised for 2026. Contractor-priced. Not among the RTM codes CMS designates “sometimes therapy.” [1] |
| 98979New 2026Treatment management | Treatment management time — first 10 minutes in a calendar month. | At least 10 minutes of practitioner time in the calendar month, including at least one real-time interactive communication with the patient or caregiver. No 16-day data minimum. | Once per calendar month; bill this OR 98980, never both. | New for 2026. Subject to the CQ/CO modifier policy for PTA/OTA services. [1][2][4] |
| 98980Treatment management | Treatment management time — first 20 minutes in a calendar month. | At least 20 minutes in the calendar month, including at least one interactive communication with the patient or caregiver. No 16-day data minimum. | Once per calendar month; bill this OR 98979. | Subject to the CQ/CO modifier policy for PTA/OTA services. [1][4] |
| 98981Treatment management | Treatment management time — each additional 20 minutes in the same calendar month. | Each additional full 20 minutes beyond the time reported with 98980. | Add-on to 98980; more than one unit per month is possible. | Listed separately in addition to the primary code. Subject to the CQ/CO modifier policy. [1][4][7] |
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Official long descriptors, as published by CMS
- 98975
- Remote therapeutic monitoring (eg, therapy adherence, therapy response, digital therapeutic intervention); initial set-up and patient education on use of equipment
- 98985
- Remote therapeutic monitoring (eg, therapy adherence, therapy response, digital therapeutic intervention); device(s) supply for data access or data transmissions to support monitoring of musculoskeletal system, 2-15 days in a 30-day period
- 98977
- Remote therapeutic monitoring (eg, therapy adherence, therapy response, digital therapeutic intervention); device(s) supply for data access or data transmissions to support monitoring of musculoskeletal system, 16-30 days in a 30-day period
- 98984
- Remote therapeutic monitoring (eg, therapy adherence, therapy response, digital therapeutic intervention); device(s) supply for data access or data transmissions to support monitoring of respiratory system, 2-15 days in a 30-day period
- 98976
- Remote therapeutic monitoring (eg, therapy adherence, therapy response, digital therapeutic intervention); device(s) supply for data access or data transmissions to support monitoring of respiratory system, 16-30 days in a 30-day period
- 98986
- Remote therapeutic monitoring (eg, therapy adherence, therapy response, digital therapeutic intervention); device(s) supply for data access or data transmissions to support monitoring of cognitive behavioral therapy, 2-15 days in a 30-day period
- 98978
- Remote therapeutic monitoring (eg, therapy adherence, therapy response, digital therapeutic intervention); device(s) supply for data access or data transmissions to support monitoring of cognitive behavioral therapy, 16-30 days in a 30-day period
- 98979
- 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
- 98980
- Remote therapeutic monitoring treatment management services, physician or other qualified health care professional time in a calendar month requiring at least one interactive communication with the patient or caregiver during the calendar month; first 20 minutes
- 98981
- Remote therapeutic monitoring treatment management services, physician or other qualified health care professional time in a calendar month requiring at least one interactive communication with the patient or caregiver during the calendar month; each additional 20 minutes (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
From Tables A-E10 and A-E11 of the CY 2026 PFS final rule (90 FR 49395–49396) and MLN Matters MM14250 [1][2]. CMS adopted all 2026 CPT descriptor, guideline, prefatory and parenthetical changes to the remote monitoring section; consult the CPT codebook for the complete text.
The billing rules that trip practices up
Pick one device code per 30 days — they don't stack
The 2–15 day codes (98984, 98985, 98986) and 16–30 day codes (98976, 98977, 98978) "are not additive and are not a base and add-on code structure." Bill only the one that matches the number of days of data transmitted in the 30-day period [1].
Pick one first-tier management code per month
98979 (first 10 minutes) and 98980 (first 20 minutes) are not additive; choose the code that fits the time spent that calendar month. If more than 20 minutes is needed after 98980, add 98981 [1]. Each 98981 unit requires a full additional 20 minutes [7].
Management codes need live, interactive communication
CMS adopted the CPT language that 98979, 98980 and 98981 "require a live, interactive communication with the patient/caregiver. The interactive communication contributes to the total time, but it does not need to represent the entire cumulative reported time." No time or effort may be counted toward more than one service [1]. The 16-day data minimum does not apply to the treatment-management codes [4].
One practitioner, once per 30 days, per patient
CMS clarified that only one practitioner can bill the RTM device and management codes for a patient during a 30-day period, and that when multiple medical devices are used, services for all of them are billed only once per patient per 30-day period [4].
A qualifying medical device is required
CMS ties the remote monitoring codes to data collected on a medical device as defined in section 201(h) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act [4]. APTA notes the data may be objective device-generated data or subjective patient-reported inputs, and must relate to signs, symptoms and functions of a therapeutic response [7].
RTM or RPM — not both
Practitioners may bill RPM or RTM, but not both concurrently. Either can be billed alongside CCM, TCM, BHI, PCM or CPM for the same patient if all requirements are met and no time or effort is counted twice [4].
Global surgical periods
Therapists who did not perform the surgery — and so are not receiving the global payment — may furnish RTM during a global period [4].
Therapists, assistants, physicians and NPPs
| Clinician | Plan of care | Modifiers / supervision |
|---|---|---|
| Physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists | Always under a therapy plan of care. | GP, GO or GN modifier on every RTM code. RTM codes 98975, 98976, 98977, 98979, 98980, 98981, 98984 and 98985 are designated "sometimes therapy." |
| Physical therapist assistants, occupational therapy assistants | Under the supervising PT's or OT's plan of care. | CQ or CO modifier (de minimis / 10% standard) applies to 98975, 98979, 98980 and 98981 — not to the device codes. Since January 1, 2025, Medicare allows general supervision of PTAs and OTAs in private practice, where state law permits; states with stricter rules still govern. |
| Physicians, PAs, NPs, clinical nurse specialists | Under a therapy plan of care when the service relates to the therapy-specific musculoskeletal device codes 98977 or 98985; otherwise may bill outside a therapy plan of care. | Per the "sometimes therapy" designation. |
Hospital outpatient departments (TOB 13X): 98975, 98976, 98977, 98984 and 98985 are paid under the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System, while 98979, 98980 and 98981 are paid under the PFS when furnished under a therapy plan of care by therapists and their supervised assistants [2]. CMS has said it lacks statutory authority to let practitioners without the appropriate benefit category — such as athletic trainers — bill these services [1].
What about payment amounts?
We deliberately don't list dollar figures. Medicare payment for each code is adjusted by locality and updated every year, and 98978 and 98986 are contractor-priced by your MAC[1]. Look up current national and local amounts in theCMS Physician Fee Schedule Look-Up Tool[8]. Commercial and Medicare Advantage rates are set by each plan.
On the horizon: CY 2027 proposals (not final)
In the CY 2027 PFS proposed rule (July 2026), CMS proposed — but has not finalized — that [6]:
- RTM be furnished only to established patients;
- RPM/RTM begin with a separately billable, face-to-face (in-person or telehealth) initiating visit;
- only clinical staff directly employed by the practice count toward RPM/RTM, ending third-party contracting;
CMS also sought comment on bundling the RPM and RTM families into new monthly G-codes. Watch for the CY 2027 final rule.
Where Kinetically fits — and where it doesn't. Kinetically is not a billing system and does not determine whether a given device or software qualifies for the RTM device-supply codes; that is a decision for your billing and compliance team. What it provides is the data-collection and engagement layer RTM workflows assume: guided home re-tests, home-program adherence tracking, and time-stamped, retained captures a clinician can review during management time. Objective movement data also strengthens the documentation behind those minutes — seehow objective motion data addresses the documentation gap, the payer documentation playbook, andKinetically for insurance & billing.
Quick answers
What are the RTM CPT codes for 2026?
Remote Therapeutic Monitoring uses ten CPT codes in 2026: 98975 (initial set-up and patient education); device-supply codes 98984 and 98976 (respiratory), 98985 and 98977 (musculoskeletal), and 98986 and 98978 (cognitive behavioral therapy); and treatment-management codes 98979 (first 10 minutes), 98980 (first 20 minutes), and 98981 (each additional 20 minutes).
What changed for RTM in 2026?
CMS adopted new CPT codes for shorter monitoring periods: 98984, 98985 and 98986 cover 2–15 days of data in a 30-day period, and 98979 covers the first 10 minutes of treatment management in a calendar month. The existing device codes 98976, 98977 and 98978 were revised to cover 16–30 days.
Are the 2–15 day and 16–30 day RTM codes added together?
No. CMS states the 2–15 day and 16–30 day device codes are not additive and are not a base and add-on structure: you bill only one of them for the number of days of data in the 30-day period. Likewise 98979 and 98980 are not additive — choose the one that fits the time spent that calendar month, and use 98981 for additional 20-minute increments after 98980.
Can physical therapists bill RTM codes?
Yes. Under Medicare, therapists always furnish RTM under a therapy plan of care with the GP, GO or GN modifier. When a physical therapist assistant or occupational therapy assistant furnishes the service in whole or in part, codes 98975, 98979, 98980 and 98981 are subject to the CQ/CO modifier policy; the device-supply codes are not.
Can RTM and RPM be billed for the same patient at the same time?
No. CMS has clarified that practitioners may bill RPM or RTM, but not both concurrently. Either may be billed alongside care management services such as CCM, TCM, BHI, PCM or CPM if all requirements are met and no time or effort is counted twice.
How much does Medicare pay for RTM codes?
This page does not list payment amounts because they vary by locality and change every year; 98978 and 98986 are contractor-priced by your Medicare Administrative Contractor. Use the CMS Physician Fee Schedule Look-Up Tool for current figures.
Sources
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Medicare and Medicaid Programs; CY 2026 Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule … (final rule). Federal Register, 90 FR 49266, November 5, 2025. Remote monitoring section: 90 FR 49394–49404 (Tables A-E10 and A-E11 list the long descriptors). federalregister.gov
- CMS, Medicare Learning Network. MLN Matters MM14250: Therapy Code List — 2026 Annual Update. Related CR 14250 / Transmittal R13431CP; effective January 1, 2026; article released November 24, 2025. cms.gov
- CMS. Change Request 14250, Transmittal R13431CP: 2026 Annual Update to the Therapy Code List. CMS Manual System, Pub. 100-04. cms.gov
- CMS. Medicare and Medicaid Programs; CY 2024 Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule … (final rule). Federal Register, 88 FR 78818, November 16, 2023. Remote monitoring clarifications: 88 FR 78882–78884. federalregister.gov
- CMS. Medicare and Medicaid Programs; CY 2025 Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule … (final rule). Federal Register, 89 FR 97710, December 9, 2024. General supervision of PTAs/OTAs in private practice: 89 FR 97911–97912. federalregister.gov
- CMS. Medicare and Medicaid Programs; CY 2027 Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule … (proposed rule). Federal Register, 91 FR 43842, July 16, 2026. Remote monitoring proposals: 91 FR 43892–43895. federalregister.gov
- American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). APTA Practice Advisory: Remote Therapeutic Monitoring Codes Under Medicare. Updated July 28, 2025 (predates the 2026 code changes). apta.org
- CMS. Physician Fee Schedule Look-Up Tool. Current national and locality payment amounts by HCPCS/CPT code. cms.gov
- CMS. Therapy Services. Therapy code list, CQ/CO modifier billing examples, and related guidance. cms.gov
Last reviewed October 2026 against the sources above. Rules can change mid-year through CMS transmittals, MAC articles, and CPT updates. This page is an educational reference; it is not billing, coding, or legal advice, and it does not guarantee coverage or payment. Cite as: Kinetically, Inc. "RTM CPT codes: a quick reference for rehab clinicians." kinetically.ai, 2026.
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