Remote Therapeutic Monitoring in 2025: Your Complete Guide to RTM CPT Codes and Reimbursement
Dr. Martinez was skeptical when her practice administrator first mentioned Remote Therapeutic Monitoring. "Another billing headache," she thought. Six months later, her orthopedic practice had generated an additional $180,000 in revenue while dramatically improving patient outcomes. The difference? Understanding exactly how RTM works and implementing it correctly from day one.
If you're still viewing Remote Therapeutic Monitoring as optional or too complex to implement, you're missing one of the most significant revenue opportunities in modern healthcare. More importantly, you're missing a chance to provide better patient care when they need it most.
What Is Remote Therapeutic Monitoring?
Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) allows healthcare providers to remotely monitor patient adherence to therapeutic interventions and track physiological data outside of traditional clinical settings. Unlike Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM), which focuses on vital signs and chronic disease management, RTM specifically targets therapeutic activities like exercise programs, medication adherence, and rehabilitation protocols.
For orthopedic and physical therapy practices, RTM represents a game-changing opportunity to maintain clinical contact with patients between visits, improve outcomes, and generate additional revenue through legitimate, well-documented services.
The Four RTM CPT Codes You Need to Know
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) established four specific CPT codes for RTM services in 2022. Understanding when and how to use each code is crucial for maximizing both patient care and reimbursement.
CPT 98975: RTM Device Setup and Patient Education
What it covers: Initial setup of RTM devices and comprehensive patient education on proper use.
Billing requirements:
Must be performed by qualified healthcare professionals
Requires face-to-face or real-time interactive communication
Can only be billed once per episode of care
Must include device setup, patient training, and education on monitoring protocols
Typical reimbursement: 19.97 (rates vary by region and payer)
Clinical application: This code covers the time spent teaching patients how to use monitoring devices, explaining the importance of adherence tracking, and setting up the technology infrastructure for ongoing monitoring.
CPT 98977: RTM Device Supply and Data Transmission
What it covers: Monthly supply of RTM devices and data transmission services.
Billing requirements:
Can be billed once per calendar month
Requires a minimum of 16 days of data collection within a 30-day period
Data must be automatically transmitted to the healthcare provider
Device must be FDA-cleared or approved for the specific monitoring purpose
Typical reimbursement: $47.27 (rates vary by region and payer)
Clinical application: This covers the ongoing cost of providing patients with monitoring devices and ensuring reliable data transmission back to the clinical team.
CPT 98980: RTM Data Analysis and Interpretation (First 20 Minutes)
What it covers: Clinical staff time spent reviewing, analyzing, and interpreting RTM data.
Billing requirements:
Requires a minimum of 20 minutes of clinical staff time per month
Must involve qualified healthcare professionals or clinical staff under physician supervision
Requires documentation of data review and clinical decision-making
Can be billed once per calendar month
Typical reimbursement: $50.60 (rates vary by region and payer)
Clinical application: This code compensates for the time clinicians spend reviewing patient adherence data, identifying trends, and making clinical decisions based on remote monitoring information.
CPT 98981: RTM Data Analysis and Interpretation (Each Additional 20 Minutes)
What it covers: Additional clinical staff time beyond the initial 20 minutes for complex cases requiring extended analysis.
Billing requirements:
Can only be billed in conjunction with 98980
Requires documentation of additional clinical time and decision-making
Each unit represents an additional 20-minute increment
Must be clinically justified based on patient complexity or data volume
Typical reimbursement: $39.95 per 20-minute increment (rates vary by region and payer)
Clinical application: For patients requiring extensive data analysis, multiple intervention adjustments, or complex clinical decision-making based on monitoring data.
Implementation Requirements: What You Need to Succeed
Successfully implementing RTM requires careful attention to both clinical workflows and technical infrastructure. Many practices fail not because RTM doesn't work, but because they underestimate the setup requirements.
Technology Infrastructure
Your RTM platform must include FDA-cleared devices capable of automatic data transmission. Consumer-grade fitness trackers don't qualify. The system must reliably capture and transmit therapeutic data without requiring manual patient input for each data point.
Clinical Workflow Integration
RTM data review cannot be an afterthought. Successful practices integrate RTM data review into existing clinical workflows, often assigning specific staff members to monitor data and escalate concerns to clinical providers when necessary.
Documentation Standards
Every RTM service must be thoroughly documented. This includes initial setup activities, monthly data review findings, clinical decisions made based on RTM data, and any interventions or plan modifications resulting from remote monitoring insights.
Staff Training
Clinical staff must understand both the technical aspects of RTM systems and the clinical protocols for responding to monitoring data. This includes knowing when to contact patients, how to adjust treatment plans based on adherence data, and proper documentation procedures.
Common Implementation Mistakes to Avoid
After analyzing hundreds of RTM implementations, certain mistakes appear repeatedly and can derail otherwise successful programs.
Inadequate Patient Selection
Not all patients are good candidates for RTM. Success rates are highest with motivated patients who have smartphone access and basic technology comfort. Trying to enroll every patient often leads to poor adherence and frustrated staff.
Insufficient Clinical Integration
RTM data that isn't actively reviewed and acted upon provides no clinical value and creates compliance risks. Successful practices establish clear protocols for data review frequency, response thresholds, and escalation procedures.
Poor Documentation Practices
RTM services are heavily audited. Practices that don't maintain detailed documentation of clinical decision-making and patient interactions often face reimbursement challenges and potential compliance issues.
Underestimating Time Requirements
While RTM can be highly profitable, it requires dedicated clinical time for data review and patient communication. Practices that don't account for this time investment often struggle with sustainability.
The Clinical Benefits: Why RTM Improves Outcomes
Beyond revenue generation, RTM provides significant clinical advantages that improve patient satisfaction and outcomes.
Early Intervention Capabilities
RTM allows providers to identify adherence issues and complications before they become serious problems. Patients who aren't following their exercise programs can be contacted and supported before their recovery stalls.
Objective Progress Tracking
Instead of relying on patient self-reports during office visits, RTM provides objective data about actual adherence and progress. This leads to more informed clinical decisions and better patient accountability.
Enhanced Patient Engagement
Patients who know their providers are actively monitoring their progress tend to be more engaged in their recovery. The accountability factor alone often improves adherence rates significantly.
Reduced Readmissions and Complications
Early identification of problems through RTM monitoring can prevent complications that might otherwise require additional interventions or even readmissions.
Choosing the Right RTM Platform
The RTM market has exploded with options, but not all platforms are created equal. When evaluating RTM solutions, consider these critical factors:
Compliance and Documentation Support
Look for platforms that automatically generate the documentation required for RTM billing and provide clear audit trails for all clinical activities. This is non-negotiable for successful RTM implementation.
Patient Experience Design
Patient adoption rates vary dramatically based on platform usability. Choose solutions that prioritize patient experience and provide robust support resources. If patients find the system difficult to use, your RTM program will fail regardless of other features.
Clinical Decision Support
The best RTM platforms don't just collect data. They provide clinical decision support tools that help providers quickly identify patients who need attention and suggest appropriate interventions.
Reliable Data Collection
Your platform must consistently capture and transmit patient data without requiring constant troubleshooting. Technical reliability directly impacts both clinical outcomes and billing compliance.
The Future of RTM in Orthopedic Care
Remote Therapeutic Monitoring represents more than just a billing opportunity. It's a fundamental shift toward continuous care that extends beyond traditional office visits. Practices that master RTM now will be positioned to thrive as healthcare continues evolving toward value-based care models.
The reimbursement landscape for RTM continues improving, with more payers recognizing the value of remote monitoring services. Early adopters are establishing competitive advantages that will be difficult for late adopters to match.
More importantly, patients are demanding more engaged, technology-enabled care experiences. RTM allows practices to meet these expectations while improving outcomes and generating additional revenue.
Getting Started: Your RTM Implementation Roadmap
Implementing RTM doesn't have to be overwhelming. The most successful practices take a phased approach:
Phase 1: Foundation Building (Month 1-2)
Select RTM platform and complete staff training
Develop clinical protocols and documentation procedures
Create patient education materials and consent processes
Phase 2: Pilot Program (Month 3-4)
Enroll 10-15 ideal candidates for RTM services
Refine workflows based on initial experience
Establish billing and documentation procedures
Phase 3: Full Implementation (Month 5+)
Scale enrollment to target patient populations
Optimize clinical workflows for efficiency
Monitor financial performance and clinical outcomes
The practices that will dominate the next decade of orthopedic care are already implementing RTM. The question isn't whether RTM will become standard practice. The question is whether you'll be leading the transition or scrambling to catch up.
*Disclaimer: Any names or characters mentioned in Orva blog posts are fictional and used solely for illustrative purposes.
Ready to explore how Remote Therapeutic Monitoring can transform your practice's patient care and revenue potential? Learn how leading orthopedic and physical therapy practices are successfully implementing RTM programs that improve outcomes while generating substantial additional revenue.