RTM Software Comparison: How to Evaluate Remote Therapeutic Monitoring Platforms for PT and Orthopedic Clinics
Most PT clinics evaluating RTM software ask the same questions: Will patients actually use it? Will it create more work for my staff? And will it generate the revenue it promises? The answers depend almost entirely on which platform you choose. RTM only pays when patients engage, and most platforms underdeliver there. Below is an honest look at what separates platforms that work from ones that disappoint in practice, along with the questions every clinic should ask before signing a contract.
What to Look for in an RTM Platform
Before comparing vendors, it helps to know what separates a platform that works from one that looks good in a demo and disappoints in practice.
Billing automation that actually tracks eligibility. RTM billing is more complex than it looks. The 30-day device period and calendar month management codes run on different cycles. The right platform tracks this automatically, showing you in real time which patients qualify, which codes are billable, and where each patient sits in their cycle. If you are left managing this with a spreadsheet, you will undercode, overbill, or miss windows entirely.
Complete code coverage. Make sure any platform you evaluate covers the full set of RTM codes: 98975, 98985, 98977, 98979, 98980, and 98981. Ask specifically which codes are tracked automatically versus which require manual documentation.
Patient engagement that drives qualification. RTM revenue requires 16 or more days of data transmission per calendar month. That only happens if patients open the app consistently. Platforms built around static PDFs, automated texts, or clinical portals see patients drop off after week one.
Setup speed your staff can live with. If activating a new patient takes 20 minutes of staff time, your therapists will stop doing it. The threshold for sustainable adoption is roughly two minutes from activation to a patient receiving their program and beginning to generate RTM data.
A pricing model aligned with your results. Some platforms charge per provider seat regardless of whether RTM is being used. Others only charge for patients who qualify. Ask every vendor directly: do I pay for patients who do not generate billable RTM data?
Questions to Ask Any RTM Vendor
Before you sign with anyone, get specific answers to these:
- Which CPT codes does your platform track automatically, and which require manual documentation?
- How does your platform handle the overlap between the 30-day device period and calendar month management cycles?
- What is your average patient engagement rate across active clinics?
- What does onboarding look like, and how long before my first patient is actively monitored?
- Do I pay for patients who do not qualify for billing in a given month?
- What happens to my data and my contract if your company is acquired?
- Can you show me a live billing report before I commit?
That last question separates vendors who have built for compliance from those who have built for sales demos.
Platform Comparison
How the Platforms Compare
98979, 98980, 98981
See Detailed Comparisons
Each platform has a full breakdown covering product architecture, billing workflow, patient engagement, pricing structure, and who each is actually built for.
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We are happy to show you how Orva handles eligibility tracking, patient activation, and billing, including a live billing report so you can evaluate the output before you commit. Setup takes less than an hour. No implementation fees. You only pay for patients who qualify.
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