Therapy-focused monitoring for non-physiological conditions. Capture patient-reported outcomes and track treatment adherence for musculoskeletal, respiratory, and behavioral health conditions.
Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) is a Medicare program introduced in 2022 that allows healthcare providers to bill for monitoring non-physiological data such as therapy adherence, pain levels, medication response, and other patient-reported outcomes. Unlike RPM which focuses on physiological measurements like blood pressure and glucose, RTM captures the subjective experience of patients managing chronic conditions.
RTM is particularly valuable for specialty practices, physical therapists, and primary care providers managing patients with musculoskeletal conditions, respiratory diseases, or behavioral health needs. The program recognizes that effective chronic disease management requires understanding not just vital signs, but how patients are responding to treatment in their daily lives.
Key distinction: RTM monitors non-physiological data (pain, adherence, symptoms, function) while RPM monitors physiological data (blood pressure, glucose, weight). Many patients benefit from both programs used together.
RTM is designed for conditions where patient-reported outcomes are essential to treatment management:
RTM is particularly effective in the following clinical scenarios:
RTM collects patient-reported data through digital surveys, questionnaires, and interactive check-ins:
Standardized pain scales and functional impact measures
Completion rates for prescribed exercises or treatments
Daily or weekly symptom logs for chronic conditions
Self-reported medication taking behavior and barriers
Ability to perform daily activities and quality of life measures
PHQ-9, GAD-7, and other validated screening tools
RTM services are billed using the following CPT codes:
| CPT Code | Description |
|---|---|
| CPT 98975 | Initial setup and patient education (one-time per episode) |
| CPT 98976 | Device supply with respiratory system monitoring (monthly) |
| CPT 98977 | Device supply with musculoskeletal system monitoring (monthly) |
| CPT 98978 | Device supply with cognitive behavioral therapy monitoring (monthly) |
| CPT 98980 | First 20 minutes of treatment management services per calendar month |
| CPT 98981 | Each additional 20 minutes of treatment management services |
CareStream makes RTM implementation seamless through our fully managed approach:
We identify patients who would benefit from RTM based on diagnoses and treatment plans.
SMS and app-based surveys delivered on condition-appropriate schedules.
Clinically validated questionnaires and assessment tools for accurate data collection.
AI-powered analysis to identify concerning patterns in patient responses over time.
Immediate escalation for responses indicating clinical concern.
Easy-to-review summaries of patient progress over time.
Automatic documentation aligned with CMS requirements.
Compliant claim generation when billing thresholds are met.
While both programs involve remote monitoring, they serve different purposes:
| Aspect | RTM | RPM |
|---|---|---|
| Data type | Non-physiological (patient-reported) | Physiological (device-measured) |
| Examples | Pain, adherence, symptoms, function | Blood pressure, glucose, weight, SpO2 |
| Input method | Digital surveys & questionnaires | Connected monitoring devices |
| Ideal conditions | Musculoskeletal, behavioral, pain | Hypertension, diabetes, heart failure |
| CPT codes | 98975–98981 | 99453–99458 |
Stacking opportunity: RTM can be billed alongside CCM, APCM, or RPM for comprehensive chronic disease management. A patient with diabetes and chronic pain could be enrolled in CCM, RPM (for glucose), and RTM (for pain management) simultaneously.
Monitor how patients actually feel between visits, with automated surveys, validated tools, and zero administrative burden.
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