Reference, updated for CY 2026

Remote therapeutic monitoring CPT codes, 2026.

Nine codes, three of them new this year. For each one: what it covers in plain words, the day or minute threshold, the 2026 national non-facility rate, the modifier, and the rule most often got wrong. Sources are at the bottom, and the rates are what CMS published for 2026 before locality adjustment.

Code	Covers	Threshold	2026 rate (non-APM)
98975	Initial setup and patient education	Once per episode of care. Requires at least 2 days of monitoring in a 30-day period.	$21.71
98976	Device supply, respiratory, 16 to 30 days	Data on at least 16 days within a 30-day period.	Verify in the PFS lookup
98977	Device supply, musculoskeletal, 16 to 30 days	Data on at least 16 days within a 30-day period.	$40.08
98978	Device supply, cognitive behavioural therapy, 16 to 30 days	Data on at least 16 days within a 30-day period.	No national rate
98979New 2026	Treatment management, first 10 minutes	10 to 19 minutes in a calendar month, with at least one real-time interactive communication.	$26.39
98980	Treatment management, first 20 minutes	20 to 39 minutes in a calendar month, with at least one interactive communication.	$54.11
98981	Treatment management, each additional 20 minutes	Add-on once total time reaches 40 minutes; one unit per further 20 minutes.	$41.42
98984New 2026	Device supply, respiratory, 2 to 15 days	Data on 2 to 15 days within a 30-day period.	Verify in the PFS lookup
98985New 2026	Device supply, musculoskeletal, 2 to 15 days	Data on 2 to 15 days within a 30-day period.	$40.08

The rules that apply to every code

From 1 January 2026, CMS designates all nine RTM codes as sometimes therapy. When a therapist furnishes them they are always under a therapy plan of care and billed with the GP, GO, or GN modifier.
Only 98975, 98979, 98980, and 98981 are subject to the de minimis (10 percent) policy, which adds the CQ or CO modifier when a PTA or OTA furnishes the service under general supervision. The device-supply codes are not.
Only one clinician may bill RTM for a patient in a period, and RTM and RPM are not billed for the same patient in the same month.
Device-supply codes run on 30-day periods counted from the start of monitoring. Treatment-management codes run on calendar months. Keep both clocks.
Rates below are 2026 national non-facility amounts before geographic adjustment. Your MAC pays a locality-specific figure. Commercial and Medicaid coverage varies by payer and state.

98975

Initial setup and patient education

2026 rate: $21.71
Threshold: Once per episode of care. Requires at least 2 days of monitoring in a 30-day period.
Modifier: GP, GO, or GN. Subject to the de minimis (10 percent) policy, so add CQ or CO when a PTA or OTA furnishes the service.

Descriptor: Remote therapeutic monitoring (therapy adherence, therapy response): initial set-up and patient education on use of equipment.

Rules to get right

Bill once at enrolment, not every month.
Before 2026 the device-supply threshold was 16 days; from 2026 the 2-day minimum applies, matching the new 98985 tier.
Education must be documented: what the patient was taught, by whom, and when.

What the record needs: Onboarding date, first guided session, and the assigned program.

98976

Device supply, respiratory, 16 to 30 days

2026 rate: Verify in the PFS lookup
Threshold: Data on at least 16 days within a 30-day period.
Modifier: GP, GO, or GN. Not subject to the de minimis policy.

Descriptor: Device(s) supply for data access or data transmissions to support monitoring of the respiratory system, 16 to 30 days in a 30-day period.

No figure confirmed in the sources this page relies on.

Rules to get right

Descriptor revised for 2026 to say 16 to 30 days, because 98984 now covers 2 to 15 days.
Respiratory monitoring only; musculoskeletal programs use 98977 or 98985.

What the record needs: Not applicable to a musculoskeletal exercise program.

98977

Device supply, musculoskeletal, 16 to 30 days

2026 rate: $40.08
Threshold: Data on at least 16 days within a 30-day period.
Modifier: GP, GO, or GN. Not subject to the de minimis policy.

Descriptor: Device(s) supply for data access or data transmissions to support monitoring of the musculoskeletal system, 16 to 30 days in a 30-day period.

Two 2026 guides list $40.08. One vendor reported $51.44 after a CMS practice-expense correction. Check your MAC's figure.

Rules to get right

Either 98977 or 98985 in a 30-day period, never both.
A day counts when the device records data that day; the patient does not have to complete the whole program.
The device must meet the FDA definition of a medical device. Ask any vendor, including us, how their product meets it.

What the record needs: A per-day completion record for every assigned exercise, so days with data are countable without a spreadsheet.

98978

Device supply, cognitive behavioural therapy, 16 to 30 days

2026 rate: No national rate
Threshold: Data on at least 16 days within a 30-day period.
Modifier: Not on the therapy code list; not a therapist service.

Descriptor: Device(s) supply for data access or data transmissions to support monitoring of cognitive behavioural therapy, 16 to 30 days in a 30-day period.

Contractor priced; payment is set by your MAC.

Rules to get right

Listed here so the family is complete. Not relevant to physical therapy programs.

What the record needs: Not applicable.

98979

Treatment management, first 10 minutes

New for 2026

2026 rate: $26.39
Threshold: 10 to 19 minutes in a calendar month, with at least one real-time interactive communication.
Modifier: GP, GO, or GN. Subject to the de minimis policy (CQ or CO for PTA or OTA time).

Descriptor: Treatment management services, physician or other qualified health care professional time in a calendar month requiring at least 1 real-time interactive communication with the patient or caregiver during the calendar month; first 10 minutes.

Rules to get right

New for 2026. Before this code, under 20 minutes paid nothing.
Not additive with 98980: pick the one code that matches the month's total time.
The interactive communication must be synchronous (phone or video), not a portal message alone.

What the record needs: Session reviews, in-app messages, and video appointments in one timeline; your minutes are yours to log.

98980

Treatment management, first 20 minutes

2026 rate: $54.11
Threshold: 20 to 39 minutes in a calendar month, with at least one interactive communication.
Modifier: GP, GO, or GN. Subject to the de minimis policy.

Descriptor: Treatment management services, physician or other qualified health care professional time in a calendar month requiring at least 1 interactive communication with the patient or caregiver during the calendar month; first 20 minutes.

Rules to get right

Calendar month, not 30-day period: the device codes and the time codes run on different clocks.
Time spent by a PTA or OTA under general supervision counts, with CQ or CO when it exceeds 10 percent.
Only one clinician bills RTM for a patient in a period, so decide who owns the month.

What the record needs: The same timeline as 98979, with the patient's reps, range of motion, quality, and pain alongside your notes.

98981

Treatment management, each additional 20 minutes

2026 rate: $41.42
Threshold: Add-on once total time reaches 40 minutes; one unit per further 20 minutes.
Modifier: GP, GO, or GN. Subject to the de minimis policy.

Descriptor: Each additional 20 minutes of treatment management services in the calendar month (list separately in addition to 98980).

Rules to get right

Only with 98980, never with 98979.
Document the time, not just the activity.

What the record needs: As for 98980.

98984

Device supply, respiratory, 2 to 15 days

New for 2026

2026 rate: Verify in the PFS lookup
Threshold: Data on 2 to 15 days within a 30-day period.
Modifier: GP, GO, or GN. Not subject to the de minimis policy.

Descriptor: Device(s) supply for data access or data transmissions to support monitoring of the respiratory system, 2 to 15 days in a 30-day period.

No figure confirmed in the sources this page relies on.

Rules to get right

New for 2026. Respiratory counterpart of 98985.

What the record needs: Not applicable to a musculoskeletal exercise program.

98985

Device supply, musculoskeletal, 2 to 15 days

New for 2026

2026 rate: $40.08
Threshold: Data on 2 to 15 days within a 30-day period.
Modifier: GP, GO, or GN. Not subject to the de minimis policy.

Descriptor: Device(s) supply for data access or data transmissions to support monitoring of the musculoskeletal system, 2 to 15 days in a 30-day period.

As listed in the two 2026 guides consulted; some sources show it equal to 98977.

Rules to get right

New for 2026. It removes the old all-or-nothing cliff at 16 days.
Either 98985 or 98977 in a 30-day period, never both.
Same device definition as 98977.

What the record needs: The same daily record as 98977, which now earns something for patients who stop at day 10.

Put numbers on it

Estimate what these codes add for your clinic.

The calculator on our clinic page uses the same 2026 rates, all editable, against your enrolment and engagement numbers.

Open the RTM estimate Book a 20-minute demo

Billing questions

What billers ask about RTM.

For the concept behind the codes, read what the Medicare codes actually cover.

Can physical therapists bill RTM under Medicare?

Yes. All RTM codes are designated sometimes therapy. When a therapist furnishes them they are always under a therapy plan of care and carry the GP, GO, or GN modifier. Physicians and some non-physician practitioners bill them without a plan of care unless the service relates to therapy.

Can I bill 98977 and 98985 in the same month?

No. For each 30-day period and device, bill the 2 to 15 day code or the 16 to 30 day code, not both. Count the days with data and pick the tier.

Do 98979 and 98980 stack?

No. They describe the same minutes. Choose 98979 for 10 to 19 minutes or 98980 for 20 to 39 minutes in the calendar month. Add 98981 only on top of 98980 once total time reaches 40 minutes.

What counts as the interactive communication?

A real-time, two-way conversation with the patient or caregiver during the calendar month, by phone or video. One is required for 98979 and for 98980. An exchange of portal messages is useful documentation but is not the interactive communication on its own.

Can RTM and RPM be billed for the same patient?

Not in the same month. Only one of the two families applies to a patient for a period, and only one clinician may bill RTM for that patient in the period.

Which codes need the CQ or CO modifier?

Only 98975, 98979, 98980, and 98981 are subject to the de minimis policy. When a PTA or OTA furnishes more than 10 percent of one of those services under general supervision, add CQ or CO. The device-supply codes 98976, 98977, 98984, and 98985 are not subject to it.

Sources

This page is a reference, not billing or legal advice. CPT codes and descriptors are copyright of the American Medical Association. Confirm rates in the CMS Physician Fee Schedule lookup for your locality, and confirm eligibility and documentation with your biller or MAC. KineTrue keeps the record; it does not submit claims or decide eligibility.