Key Takeaways
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RTM and RPM are distinct programs. They monitor different data types, serve different patient populations, and cannot be billed together for the same patient in the same calendar month.
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The 2026 CMS Final Rule introduced three new RTM CPT codes: 98979, 98984, and 98985, making RTM more flexible and financially rewarding for practices.
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RTM is specifically designed for musculoskeletal and respiratory conditions, as well as therapy adherence, expanding eligibility to physical therapists and occupational therapists.
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Stacking RTM or RPM with CCM, BHI, and APCM is one of the highest-leverage revenue strategies available to Medicare providers in 2026.
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RPM Logix manages the operational burden of both RPM and RTM programs so your team can focus on patient care.
If you’ve been hearing more about Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) lately, you’re not alone. Since CMS first introduced RTM codes in 2022, adoption has been growing, and the 2026 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule just made it significantly more attractive with three new CPT codes, lower time thresholds, and expanded billing flexibility.
But for many providers and practice managers, a critical question remains unanswered: What exactly is the difference between RTM and RPM? And which one is right for your patients?
This guide breaks it all down, including the new 2026 RTM codes, how each program reimburses, and how to build a whole-practice remote care strategy that captures maximum revenue for the care your team is already delivering.
What Is Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM)?
Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) is a CMS-reimbursed program that uses digital technology to track and monitor a patient’s therapeutic response and treatment adherence outside of the clinical setting.
Where Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) focuses on physiological data, vital signs like blood pressure, weight, glucose, and oxygen saturation; RTM focuses on non-physiological data, specifically:
- Musculoskeletal system status (pain levels, range of motion, adherence to home exercise programs)
- Respiratory system status (breathing patterns, inhaler adherence, symptom tracking)
- Therapy adherence and response (compliance with prescribed treatment plans)
One of RTM’s most important distinctions is who can bill it. Unlike RPM, which is billed by physicians and clinical staff under physician supervision, RTM expands billing eligibility to include physical therapists (PTs) and occupational therapists (OTs), opening a new reimbursement channel for rehabilitation-focused practices.
RPM vs. RTM: A Side-by-Side Comparison
| Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) | Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) | |
|---|---|---|
| Data type | Physiological (vitals, biometrics) | Non-physiological (therapy adherence, functional status) |
| What’s tracked | Blood pressure, weight, glucose, O2 sat, heart rate | Pain, MSK function, respiratory adherence, exercise compliance |
| Data collection | Requires automatic device upload | Patient self-reporting via software is permitted |
| Target conditions | Hypertension, diabetes, CHF, COPD, obesity, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) | Orthopedic/MSK conditions, respiratory conditions, therapy patients |
| Who can bill | Physicians and clinical staff under physician supervision | Physicians, PTs, OTs, and other qualified healthcare professionals |
| Key CPT codes | 99453, 99454, 99457, 99458, 99445, 99470 | 98975, 98976, 98977, 98980, 98981, 98979, 98984, 98985 |
| Can they be billed together? | Not for the same patient in the same calendar month | Not for the same patient in the same calendar month |
| Introduced | 2019 | 2022 |
| 2026 updates | New codes 99445 and 99470 (2–15 day and 10–19 min tiers) | New codes 98979, 98984, and 98985 (matching new tiers) |
The most important thing to understand: RPM and RTM are mutually exclusive per patient per month. A single patient cannot be enrolled in both during the same billing period. However, different patients in your practice can absolutely be enrolled in each, and the right program depends entirely on their clinical profile.
The 3 New RTM CPT Codes for 2026
The 2026 CMS Final Rule, published November 1, 2025, introduced three new RTM codes that mirror the flexibility CMS simultaneously added to the RPM code set. Here’s what changed:
CPT 98984: Short-Window Device Supply for Respiratory Monitoring (2–15 Days)
Previously, RTM billing for respiratory device supply required a patient to log 16 or more days of data in a 30-day period under CPT 98976. CPT 98984 now creates a lower-threshold tier for respiratory patients who engage for just 2 to 15 days per calendar month.
This is a significant win for practices managing patients with lower engagement or episodic conditions, since those patients can now generate reimbursable RTM claims even if they only logged data on a handful of days that month.
Note: CPT 98984 and 98976 are mutually exclusive and applicable to respiratory conditions only. Bill one or the other per patient per month based on actual days of data collected.
CPT 98985: Short-Window Device Supply for Musculoskeletal Monitoring (2–15 Days)
CPT 98985 is the musculoskeletal counterpart to 98984, creating the same lower-threshold billing tier for MSK patients who engage for 2 to 15 days in a 30-day period. Prior to 2026, these patients would have generated no RTM reimbursement at all.
Note: CPT 98985 and 98977 are mutually exclusive and applicable to musculoskeletal conditions only. Bill one or the other per patient per month based on actual days of data collected.
CPT 98979: Shorter Treatment Management Time (10–19 Minutes)
This is arguably the most practice-changing addition. Prior to 2026, RTM treatment management required a minimum of 20 minutes of provider time per month, billed under CPT 98980. CPT 98979 now creates a reimbursable tier for 10 to 19 minutes of monthly treatment management, including at least one interactive communication with the patient or caregiver.
For practices with high patient volumes, this lower time threshold makes RTM viable for a larger portion of the patient panel. It mirrors the new CPT 99470 added to RPM, reflecting CMS’s broader philosophy: high-impact care happens in smaller, more frequent increments.
Note: CPT 98979 and 98980 are mutually exclusive. Only bill one per month based on documented time.
Which Patients Qualify for RTM?
RTM eligibility is built around two core clinical categories:
- 1.
Musculoskeletal (MSK) Conditions
This is considered to be the largest RTM patient population. For these patients, RTM enables therapists and physicians to monitor whether prescribed exercises are being performed, track reported pain levels between visits, and intervene when adherence drops before outcomes deteriorate. Some of the qualifying conditions are:
- Post-surgical orthopedic recovery (knee replacement, hip replacement, rotator cuff repair)
- Chronic back and neck pain
- Arthritis and joint conditions
- Patients in active physical therapy programs
- Patients prescribed home exercise programs
- 2.
Respiratory Conditions
For respiratory patients, RTM captures therapy adherence data that complements, but does not replace, the physiological monitoring available through RPM (such as pulse oximetry or peak flow measured through RPM-compatible devices). Some of the qualifying conditions are:
- COPD
- Asthma (particularly for adherence to inhaler protocols)
- Post-pneumonia recovery
- Patients in pulmonary rehabilitation
Beyond the two device supply code categories above, RTM also supports monitoring of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) adherence under CPT 98978, making it relevant to behavioral health-adjacent treatment plans as well.
Can You Bill RTM and RPM Together for the Same Patient?
No, not for the same patient in the same calendar month. CMS is explicit on this point. A patient enrolled in RPM cannot also have RTM billed by your practice during that same period.
However, this limitation comes with an important nuance:
- 1.
Different patients, same practice
Your practice can absolutely have some patients enrolled in RPM (for hypertension, diabetes, CHF monitoring) and other patients enrolled in RTM (for post-surgical MSK recovery, respiratory adherence). The restriction is at the individual patient level.
- 2.
Sequential enrollment
A patient may be eligible for RPM during one period of care and RTM during another, depending on their clinical needs at the time.
- 3.
RTM stacks with CCM, BHI, and APCM
While RTM and RPM can’t be billed together for the same patient, RTM can be layered with Chronic Care Management (CCM), Behavioral Health Integration (BHI), and Advanced Primary Care Management (APCM) when documentation requirements for each program are met independently.
How RTM Fits Into a Whole-Practice Revenue Strategy
The most forward-thinking practices in 2026 aren’t choosing between RPM and RTM. They’re building a comprehensive remote care model that matches each patient to the right program.
Consider what a well-structured Medicare panel might look like:
| Patient Profile | Recommended Program(s) |
|---|---|
| Hypertension + Type 2 Diabetes | RPM + CCM |
| CHF with depression | RPM + CCM + BHI |
| Post-knee replacement (active PT) | RTM |
| COPD + 2 chronic conditions | RTM + CCM |
| Complex chronic care (3+ conditions) | APCM + BHI add-on |
| Diabetes + obesity | RPM + CCM + Diabetes Education / RD consult |
| OSA / PAP therapy patients | RPM + CCM (Sleep Buddy) |
When programs are layered appropriately, the per-patient monthly reimbursement climbs substantially, not through billing complexity, but through delivering the coordinated, whole-person care that CMS’s value-based care evolution is explicitly designed to reward.
2026 RTM Reimbursement Rates
Reimbursement rates vary by geographic location based on the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. The following are approximate 2026 national averages:
| CPT | DESCRIPTION | NATIONAL AVERAGE |
|---|---|---|
| 98975 | Initial Setup | $21.71 |
| 98984 | 2-15 Days of Respiratory Device Readings | $52.11 |
| 98976 | 16+ Days of Respiratory Device Readings | $52.11 |
| 98979 | RTM Care Team 10-19 Mins | $26.39 |
| 98980 | RTM Care Team First 20 Mins | $54.11 |
| 98981 | RTM Care Team Ea Addtl 20 Mins | $41.42 |
| 98985 | 2-15 Days of Musculoskeletal Device Readings | $51.44 |
| 98977 | 16+ Days of Musculoskeletal Device Readings | $51.44 |
Always verify current rates using the CMS Physician Fee Schedule Look-Up Tool for your specific locality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can physical therapists bill RTM independently?
Yes. RTM is one of the few CMS remote care programs that extends billing eligibility to physical therapists and occupational therapists, not just physicians and their supervising staff.
Q: Does RTM require a specific device?
RTM is more flexible than RPM in this regard. While RPM requires automatic data upload from a cleared device, RTM permits patient self-reporting through software-as-a-medical-device (SaMD) tools. This lowers the barrier to enrollment for patients who may not tolerate wearable or connected devices.
Q: What’s the minimum data collection required for RTM in 2026?
Thanks to the new CPT 98984, RTM can now be billed with as few as 2 days of device data or patient-reported data in a 30-day period. A significant reduction from the previous 16-day minimum.
Q: Can a practice bill both RPM and RTM in the same month?
Yes, but not for the same patient. Different patients in your practice can be enrolled in RPM and RTM simultaneously based on their individual clinical needs.
Q: How does RTM fit with APCM?
RTM can be used alongside APCM programs when documentation requirements are independently satisfied for each service. This is particularly relevant for practices already managing complex Medicare populations under the APCM framework who also serve rehabilitation patients.
For more on building a multi-program remote care strategy, explore our guides on APCM and CCM working together, 2026 reimbursement increases for RPM and CCM, and BHI integration with APCM.
How RPM Logix Supports RTM Programs
At RPM Logix, we understand that launching and sustaining a remote monitoring program requires more than just knowing the right codes. It requires operational infrastructure: dedicated care team to conduct monthly touchpoints, clinical oversight, documentation workflows, device supply logistics, and billing accuracy; all coordinated so your providers can focus on patient relationships.
Our team of care managers (nurses), registered dietitians, and diabetes educators supports practices across all six CMS-reimbursed remote care programs:
- Chronic Care Management (CCM)
- Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM)
- Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM)
- Advanced Primary Care Management (APCM)
- Principal Care Management (PCM)
- Behavioral Health Integration (BHI)
Whether your practice is looking to launch RTM for the first time, expand an existing RPM program, or build a comprehensive care model that layers multiple programs across your Medicare panel, RPM Logix handles the operational complexity so you can capture the revenue and outcomes you’ve earned.
Ready to see what RTM could mean for your practice revenue? Schedule a Strategy Call with RPM Logix →
Founder at RPM Logix – Remote Personalized Medicine