RPM Manual
The practical 2026 guide to device rules, day thresholds, management time, and audit defensibility for Remote Patient Monitoring.
Read the RPM Guide →Expand Your Practice Beyond the Visit.
Introducing Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) for specialty practices. The simple, software-driven way to monitor patient progress, capture patient-reported outcomes, and get reimbursed for the care you provide between appointments.
RTM is built for non-physiologic, therapeutic data--things like adherence, pain/function scores, inhaler use, CBT homework, and post-op recovery--not just vitals. Data can be self-reported by the patient through an FDA-defined medical device (including software as a medical device).
Calculate Your RTM Revenue How In-House RTM Works ↓Not sure about the specific CPT requirements? Read our Deep-Dive Guide to RTM Compliance.
RTM vs. RPM: A Critical Difference for Specialists
RTM focuses on musculoskeletal, respiratory, and cognitive-behavioral therapy programs. It uses non-physiologic data--often patient-reported--to manage adherence and response between visits. RPM, by contrast, requires automatically collected physiologic data (e.g., BP, SpO₂) from a device. You can’t bill RTM and RPM together for the same patient in the same 30-day period.
Specialty Practices
RTM is the key to remote care for Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Orthopedists, and other musculoskeletal, respiratory, or CBT-focused specialists.
Therapeutic, Self-Reported Data
Unlike RPM's automated “physiologic” data, RTM tracks non-physiologic data like therapy/medication adherence, pain levels, functional status, inhaler use, and CBT homework.
Visibility Between Visits
Get reimbursed for tracking patient progress on home exercise plans, post-op recovery, and adherence--all between appointments.
RTM CBT device supply (CPT 98978) exists and is contractor-priced by Medicare--coverage varies by MAC and payer.
A Simple Platform Built for a Complex Workflow
Step 1: Automate Patient-Reported Data
Our agent sends prompts that drive patients to record data inside our RTM app (SaMD). Prompts may arrive by SMS, but the clinical data of record are captured by a medical-device-qualified app, satisfying RTM device and documentation rules.
Step 2: Track Time & Adherence Automatically
We auto-log your RTM treatment-management time and surface when you’ve reached 20 minutes and completed at least one live interaction--required to bill 98980/98981.
Step 3: Generate a Clean, Defensible Claim
Our compliance engine encodes RTM-specific rules: device day thresholds for 98976/98977 (and 98978 where covered), one-practitioner-per-30-day limits, incident-to for physician practices (general supervision), and therapy plan-of-care plus de minimis rules for PT/OT/SLP teams.
The RTM Financials: A New, Predictable Revenue Stream
Use the calculator for current rates. As a reference, 2025 national non-facility Medicare payments are roughly ~$19–20 (98975), ~$43 (98976/98977), ~$50 (98980), and ~$40 (98981). Locality and payer rules vary; 98978 (CBT device supply) is contractor-priced.
Coming Jan 1, 2026: CMS finalized additional remote monitoring codes that permit billing for 2–15 device days and 10 minutes of management (alongside the existing 16–30 day and 20-minute pathways). We’ll keep the calculator current as MAC guidance lands.
Stop Guessing. See Your RTM Revenue in 60 Seconds.
Use our free, confidential calculator to instantly see your practice’s potential monthly revenue from RTM, APCM, and RPM. No sales call required.
FairPath RTM Revenue Snapshot
Active Patients
100 patients
Eligible Codes
98975 · 98977 · 98980
Estimated Monthly Revenue
$9,000 based on RTM reimbursement averages.
Values shown reflect 2025 Medicare non-facility national averages; your locality and payer policies vary.
Calculate Your Revenue NowYour RTM Questions, Answered
1
Can PTs/OTs/SLPs bill RTM?
Yes. RTM is “sometimes therapy.” PTs, OTs, and SLPs can bill within scope; physicians and other qualified health care professionals can bill as well. Use GP/GO/GN modifiers when it’s therapy under a plan of care.
2
Does RTM require a “medical device”?
Yes. RTM data must be captured and transmitted by a connected medical device as defined by the FDA. That device can be software (SaMD) in our app; patients may self-report inside that device. SMS nudges are fine, but plain texting--without capture through a medical-device-qualified app--won’t meet device requirements.
3
Do I need 16 days of data every 30-day period?
For device-supply codes (98976/98977, and 98978 where covered) you need at least 16 days of data in a 30-day period today. For treatment-management codes (98980/98981), the 16-day rule doesn’t apply, but you still need legitimate RTM data and at least one live interactive communication in the month.
4
What interactive communication is required for 98980/98981?
At least one real-time, two-way interaction (phone or audio-video) with the patient or caregiver during the month; audio-only is allowed.
5
Can two providers bill RTM for the same patient in the same month?
No. Only one practitioner can bill RTM (or RPM) services per patient per 30-day period, even if multiple devices are used.
6
Can I bill RTM with CCM, PCM, BHI, or TCM?
Yes, but don’t double-count time or effort. CMS allows RTM (or RPM) concurrently with those care-management services if you’re not billing for the same minutes twice.
7
Do I need an established patient to start RTM?
No. CMS requires an established relationship for RPM, but not for RTM.
8
What about CBT?
98978 covers cognitive-behavioral therapy device supply; it’s contractor-priced and coverage varies by MAC. If you furnish CBT-aligned digital therapy, confirm your MAC’s policy.
9
Can assistants help with RTM workflows?
In therapy settings, PTA/OTA services are subject to the 10% de minimis policy and must follow therapy supervision and modifier rules. In physician practices, RTM may be furnished under general supervision for incident-to, per CMS policy. Always verify your MAC and setting specifics.
10
What documentation do auditors expect?
Patient consent; the named device/app (and FDA device standing); episode-of-care and plan-of-care details; day-counts for device-supply codes; cumulative time logs; dates and times of interactive communications; and the clinical decisions or plan updates driven by RTM data.
11
What changes in 2026?
CMS finalized new remote monitoring codes that reduce thresholds--2–15 day supply codes and 10-minute management codes--so you’ll have both lower and higher threshold options. We’ll update the calculator as MAC and payer guidance lands.
