The CMS Final Rule 2026 marks an important step forward for Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM), particularly for physical therapy and musculoskeletal care. Released as part of the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule 2026, the update reflects CMS’s growing recognition of care that happens beyond the clinic walls.
For practices delivering RTM for musculoskeletal care, these changes go beyond regulatory updates. They create new opportunities to support between-visit care, expand patient engagement, and better align reimbursement with real-world hybrid care models in the United States.
As of January 1, 2026, CMS introduced new billing flexibility through the expanded new RTM CPT codes. Historically, RTM reimbursement depended on full-month monitoring periods and higher management time thresholds, which did not always reflect how patients engage with care.
Under the 2026 CMS Final Rule RTM updates, practices now have options that better align with episodic care and shorter, but still meaningful, clinical touchpoints.
Two new codes anchor this shift:
Together, these codes expand how clinics can capture reimbursable care without replacing existing RTM codes used for longer monitoring durations or higher management intensity.
The structure of RTM reimbursement changes reflects a simple reality: patient recovery and adherence do not always follow rigid timelines.
Many patients benefit from remote therapeutic monitoring during targeted windows such as early in a plan of care, after discharge, or during symptom flare-ups. Short, focused clinical interactions can also meaningfully influence adherence and outcomes without requiring extended time commitments.
By adjusting RTM billing requirements, CMS is aligning reimbursement with patient engagement between visits, care outside the clinic, and realistic remote care workflows used by physical therapy practices today.
As part of the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule 2026, CMS finalized updated national average payment rates for Remote Therapeutic Monitoring CPT codes in non-facility settings. These rates take effect January 1, 2026.
While actual reimbursement varies by geographic locality, the national averages provide a useful benchmark for RTM reimbursement planning.
For clinics navigating Medicare RTM billing, the 2026 updates introduce meaningful operational benefits.
Practices can now pursue RTM reimbursement for partial-month monitoring and shorter management intervals, reducing missed revenue opportunities. Updated documentation requirements also allow clinical records to better reflect actual patient engagement rather than forcing care into predefined thresholds.
Together, these changes support more predictable RTM revenue for PT clinics, especially those scaling hybrid care programs gradually.
Practices planning ahead will be best positioned to benefit from these updates:
The CMS Final Rule 2026 signals a continued move toward care models that extend beyond the clinic and support consistent patient engagement between visits. By expanding RTM reimbursement and introducing more flexible CPT codes, CMS is aligning policy with how musculoskeletal care is delivered in real-world physical therapy settings.
For practices considering how Remote Therapeutic Monitoring fits into their clinical workflows and reimbursement strategy for 2026, you can request a demo to see how EverEx supports between-visit care, RTM documentation, and Medicare billing for musculoskeletal practices.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or billing advice. Practices should consult qualified experts regarding CMS regulations, Medicare RTM billing, and CPT coding.
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