Medical Coding Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) and Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM)

Medical Coding Guidelines and Tips for Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) and Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) – 2026 Updates

Remote monitoring services continue to expand with advancements in digital healthcare. Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) and Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) allow providers to track patient progress outside of traditional office visits. For 2026, several important CPT® code updates have changed how these services are reported, especially around data collection timeframes and clinical staff time.

Understanding these updates is essential for accurate coding, compliance, and reimbursement.

What Is Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM)?

Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) involves collecting and transmitting physiologic data from a patient to the provider using approved medical devices.

Examples of RPM data include:

• Blood pressure

• Heart rate

• Blood glucose

• Oxygen saturation

• Weight

RPM continues to be widely used to manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and COPD.

What Is Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM)?

Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) focuses on non-physiologic data related to how a patient is responding to a treatment plan.

Common RTM use cases include:

• Medication adherence tracking

• Physical therapy activity

• Respiratory therapy compliance

• Pain score monitoring

RTM is frequently used by physical and occupational therapy, behavioral health, and respiratory care providers.

Are They The Same As Telehealth?

• Telehealth is a broad term that includes a wide range of remote healthcare services.
• RPM is a type of telehealth that focuses on collecting physiological data from patients remotely.
• RTM is a newer category of telehealth that focuses on collecting non-physiological data, like medication adherence and pain levels.
• The use of RPM and RTM services is still allowed under Medicare and other insurance plans, provided that the specific coding and billing requirements are met. 

Telehealth And Remote Patient Monitoring  

2026 RPM and RTM Coding Updates

For 2026, the coding landscape has changed to allow more flexible reporting options:

Key changes include:

• New codes that allow reporting for shorter data collection periods, as few as 2 to 15 days, instead of the previous 16-day minimum.

• A new code that allows reporting of 10 minutes of clinical staff time spent managing a patient’s remote monitoring data in a 30-day period.

• Increased flexibility for smaller practices or patients who do not require full-month monitoring.

These updates allow providers to better reflect the actual level of service provided.

Updated RPM CPT® Codes

Common RPM codes now include both traditional and newer options:

• 99453 – Initial device set-up and patient education

• 99454 – Device supply and data transmissions (30-day reporting period)

• New 2026 short-duration codes – Allow reporting for 2–15 days of data collection

• 99457 – First 20 minutes of clinical staff/physician/QHP time in a calendar month

• 99458 – Each additional 20 minutes

• New 2026 code – Covers 10 minutes of clinical staff time in a 30-day period

Note: Always verify payer adoption of the new short-duration and time-based codes.

RTM CPT® Codes

RTM codes continue to be reported similarly, now with increased flexibility:

• 98975 – Initial set-up and patient education

• 98976 – Respiratory system device supply (30 days)

• 98977 – Musculoskeletal system device supply (30 days)

• 98978 – Cognitive behavioral or other device supply (30 days)

• 98980 – First 20 minutes of management services per month

• 98981 – Each additional 20 minutes

• New 2026 code – Covers 10 minutes of clinical staff time during a 30-day period

Updated Documentation Requirements for 2026

Accurate and detailed documentation is more important than ever due to the new shorter monitoring periods.

Coders should ensure documentation includes:

• Patient consent for RPM or RTM

• Medical necessity

• Start and end dates of monitoring

• The exact number of days of data was collected

• Device type and manufacturer

• Provider review notes

• Exact time spent managing or reviewing data

Common 2026 Coding Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these newer compliance risks:

• Failing to document the exact number of monitoring days

• Using the wrong time-based code (10-minute vs 20-minute)

• Billing full-month codes when only short-duration data was collected

• Missing device documentation

• Lack of documented clinical decision-making based on the data

Practical Coding Tips for RPM and RTM (2026)

Use these best practices to stay compliant:

• Track daily data collection counts

• Maintain device supply and serial number logs

• Use time-tracking tools for clinical review time

• Confirm payer coverage for new codes before billing

• Educate clinical staff about the shorter-duration monitoring options

Coding Tip

Document exactly how many days of data were collected, which device was used, and how much time was spent reviewing or managing the results.

The 2026 updates to RPM and RTM codes provide greater flexibility for providers and practices. Medical coders play a critical role in ensuring that shorter data collection periods and new time-based services are reported accurately to avoid denials and compliance issues.

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