The upcoming year brings a pivotal change for clinics using Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM). With new CPT codes taking effect in 2026, providers can expect greater flexibility, improved billing options, and more reimbursement opportunities for the care they already deliver beyond the clinic. These updates reflect a continued effort to modernize healthcare delivery and reward models that keep patients engaged between visits.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has finalized new RTM code updates beginning January 1, 2026. Two new CPT codes, 98979 and 98985, will allow providers to bill for shorter monitoring periods and briefer adjusted data transmission targets.
These updates are designed to give physical therapy and musculoskeletal (MSK) practices more flexibility in how they deliver and document patient engagement. By recognizing shorter monitoring durations and smaller time increments for treatment management, CMS is helping ensure that valuable patient care provided outside the clinic is fairly reimbursed.
Remote Therapeutic Monitoring setup and device supply codes cover the initial configuration, patient education, and ongoing data transmission that allow providers to track adherence and progress outside the clinic. These codes ensure that clinics are reimbursed for the work involved in activating and maintaining patient programs and engagement.
Together, these codes expand flexibility for clinics by recognizing shorter monitoring durations and providing reimbursement for more frequent data capture. This encourages broader RTM adoption and supports consistent patient engagement throughout each care episode.
The new RTM codes go beyond simple updates and reshape how clinics can document and bill for the care they already provide between visits. These changes open the door for more consistent reimbursement, better patient tracking, and greater flexibility in how RTM is delivered.
EverEx helps clinics simplify and scale Remote Therapeutic Monitoring through automation, analytics, and integrated communication tools. Practices are able to streamline the tracking of patient adherence and data transmission, centralize reporting to support compliance and reimbursement, leverage communication channels for interactive clinician-patient engagement and improve documentation that is aligned with CMS billing standards.
With the 2026 CMS updates, EverEx enables providers to expand RTM coverage, improve patient engagement, and optimize billing performance across all MSK care settings.
Learn how your clinic can prepare for the new CMS codes and expand your programs by contacting us today!
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