Remote Therapeutic Monitoring
CPT 98979 in 2026 RTM treatment management 10 to 19 minutes
Use 98979 to report RTM treatment management services when a clinician provides 10 to 19 minutes of cumulative time in a calendar month and completes at least one real-time interactive communication with the patient or caregiver during that month.
Quick facts
Updated for 2026Always confirm payer and MAC guidance for your state, setting, billing entity, and patient plan.
What typically counts toward 98979 time
- Reviewing RTM data trends and adherence signals
- Updating the home program or plan of care based on patient response
- Documenting clinical decisions and actions taken in response to RTM findings
- The real-time interactive communication that occurs during the month
Operational tip: Run a short weekly cadence. Four 3 to 5 minute check-ins often lands cleanly in the 10 to 19 minute range.
Common reasons 98979 gets denied
- No auditable time total or no date-stamped time entries
- No documentation of the real-time interactive communication
- Time billed in the wrong bucket, for example billing 98979 when 20+ minutes were provided
- Unclear clinical rationale for plan changes or outreach
Documentation checklist
- Calendar month and the total minutes provided in that month
- Date, method, and outcome of the real-time interactive communication
- Summary of RTM data reviewed and what the clinician did in response
- Plan updates with clinical rationale tied to goals and functional progress
- Rendering clinician and any required therapy modifiers when applicable
Keep it simple. A payer should be able to see the month, the minutes, the real-time touchpoint, and the clinical action taken.
How 98979 relates to device supply
In many RTM programs, device supply codes capture monitoring days in a 30-day period, and 98979 captures clinician time in a calendar month. These are separate concepts. Keep both timelines clear in your documentation.
If your team struggles to hit 20 minutes, 98979 is the cleaner way to capture meaningful monthly oversight without forcing extra time.
How 98979 fits with other RTM codes
98975
One-time onboarding that starts the episode and sets the patient up for RTM tracking.
98985
Device supply for 2 to 15 monitoring days in a 30-day period.
98977
Device supply for 16 to 30 monitoring days in a 30-day period.
98980
Use when management time reaches 20 minutes or more in a calendar month.
98981
Add-on management time after 98980 when additional time is provided in the same month.
RTM guide
End-to-end workflow, including enrollment, documentation, and billing best practices.
98979 is the entry point for monthly management time. It is especially useful when care management is real, but does not reach 20 minutes.
Common scenarios
Short month still has meaningful oversight
A patient starts late in the month. The clinician reviews data twice, adjusts the plan once, and completes one real-time touchpoint. Total time for the month is 12 minutes. Bill 98979 for that calendar month.
Time grows past 20 minutes
Total management time reaches 26 minutes in the calendar month. Bill 98980 instead of 98979 for that month.
Time is 8 minutes
The clinician performed light oversight totaling 8 minutes. 98979 does not fit because the 10-minute threshold was not met. Keep the documentation and continue the cadence if the patient remains enrolled.
Missing real-time touchpoint
Time totals 14 minutes, but there is no real-time interactive communication documented for the month. Do not bill 98979 for that month unless payer policy clearly supports an alternative definition.
Orva has signed the APTA Digital Transparency Pledge. Coding guidance here is educational and does not guarantee coverage or payment. Confirm payer policy and MAC guidance for your state, setting, billing entity, and patient plan.
Make RTM simple for your therapists
Track time cleanly, capture the real-time touchpoint, and produce documentation that supports accurate billing.