Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) is transforming the way physical and occupational therapists support their patients while offering exciting new opportunities for reimbursement. By leveraging technology to track patient progress and adherence to treatment plans remotely, you can not only enhance patient outcomes but also create an additional source of revenue for your practice.

If you’re new to RTM, understanding how to bill for it may feel overwhelming. That’s why we’ve created this beginner-friendly guide that covers the essentials, from the relevant CPT codes to billing criteria. By the end of this post, you’ll feel more confident in incorporating RTM into your practice and positioning your services for success.

What is remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM)?

RTM allows you to use technology—like apps or wearable devices—to collect and analyze data on your patients’ treatment progress. This includes things like how consistently they follow their home exercise program (HEP), how they’re responding to therapy, and their self-reported progress. This data helps you make care decisions tailored to their needs.

But that’s not all. RTM isn’t just great for patient care; it also creates new opportunities for reimbursement. Medicare and many private insurers support RTM billing, which, on average, can bring in an additional $160 per patient, per 30-day cycle. For you, this means a smarter way to combine quality care with financial stability.

Why should you consider RTM?

RTM offers benefits that extend far beyond reimbursement. It empowers patients by giving them tools to stay engaged in their own care while also helping you provide more targeted support. Studies show that digital health approaches like RTM can improve patient adherence, reduce hospital admissions, and lead to better long-term outcomes. Here’s why it’s worth integrating into your practice:

• Better patient outcomes
  With access to real-time data, you can adjust treatment plans quickly, address challenges before they grow, and guide your patients toward success.
• Flexibility for your patients
  RTM makes attending therapy easier for patients—especially busy adults or those with mobility challenges. They get to stay connected without extra trips to the clinic.
• Strengthened patient relationships
  RTM tools foster better communication between clinicians and patients. When patients feel more connected to their care team, they are more likely to stay motivated and engaged.
• A Financial boost for your clinic
  Offering RTM doesn’t just expand your services; it adds a steady, sustainable revenue stream while enhancing the quality of care you provide.

How is RTM different from RPM?

Although Remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM) shares similarities with Remote patient monitoring (RPM), the two have distinct focuses. RPM is designed for tracking physiologic data, such as blood pressure or glucose levels, while RTM is tailored specifically for rehab therapy. It monitors non-physiologic data, such as adherence to treatment plans or functional progress, making it ideal for physical and occupational therapists.

Mastering RTM billing

Understanding how to bill for RTM might feel like learning a new language, but once you break it into steps, it becomes much more manageable. The key is knowing the correct billing requirements, CPT codes, and how to use them. Here’s a quick rundown:

RTM billing criteria

To make the most out of RTM billing, you’ll want to keep a few key requirements in mind:

1. Device approval
   Devices used for RTM, such as wearable sensors, apps, or other monitoring tools, must be FDA-cleared or approved. If you need to confirm your device is approved, use this helpful guide created by the FDA.
2. 16-Day minimum
   Most RTM codes require devices to be used for at least 16 days within a 30-day billing cycle. Keep this threshold in mind as you track usage.
3. Precise documentation
   Keep thorough notes about everything, including when you educated the patient, the data you reviewed, the communications you had, and any changes you made to the care plan. Detailed documentation shows value and compliance.
4. Understand payor guidelines
   Stay up-to-date with requirements from Medicare and private payors. Rules can differ and knowing them helps you avoid denied claims.

RTM CPT codes

Understanding these codes puts you in control. They give you a clear framework for billing RTM in a way that’s both accurate and compliant.

• 98975 – Covers the initial setup of the RTM device and teaching your patient how to use it. Bill this once at the start of care.
• 98976 – For respiratory monitoring. Requires patients to use the device for at least 16 days in a 30-day billing cycle.
• 98977 – For musculoskeletal monitoring. Requires patients to use the device for at least 16 days in a 30-day billing cycle.
• 98980 – For the first 20 minutes you spend in treatment management during a 30-day cycle (e.g., reviewing data, telehealth check-ins).
• 98981 – Additional treatment management time beyond the first 20 minutes, billed in 20-minute increments.

Example – RTM billing in action

To give you a practical idea of how this would work, imagine you’re treating a 65-year-old patient recovering from hip replacement surgery. Using RTM, you equip them with an app that tracks how they’re doing with their HEP while they recover at home. Here’s how billing could look:

1. Setup and training (98975): You help the patient install and understand how to use the app. You bill 98975 for this one-time setup.
2. Monitoring progress (98977): Over the next month, the patient logs their exercises using the app, surpassing the 16-day minimum requirement for remote monitoring. You bill 98977.
3. Communicating and adjusting (98980 & 98981): Across that same month, you review their app data and spend 40 minutes total between telehealth check-ins and feedback. You bill 98980 for the first 20 minutes and 98981 for the second.

This approach ensures your patient feels guided and supported—and you are fairly reimbursed for the care you provide.