Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) in Physical Therapy: A Complete Guide for Small Clinics (2026)
A complete guide to Remote Therapeutic Monitoring for PT clinics - how RTM works, CPT codes 98975-98981, $165 average monthly reimbursement per patient, and how to get started.
Quick Answer: Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) is a CMS-billable service that lets PT clinics track patient progress between visits, generating an average of $165 in additional monthly reimbursement per enrolled patient.
What Is Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM)?
Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) is a CMS-recognized digital health service that allows physical therapists to monitor a patient's musculoskeletal status, therapy adherence, and pain levels remotely between in-clinic visits. Clinics use connected devices or app-based check-ins to collect this data.
RTM was introduced as a billable service category in 2022 under its own CPT codes, separate from Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM). It is specifically designed for therapy disciplines including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy.
RTM turns the time between appointments into a billable, trackable, and clinically useful part of care. Most of a patient's recovery happens outside the clinic. RTM makes that time count.
How Does RTM Work in a Physical Therapy Clinic?
RTM operates through three components: a connected device or app the patient uses at home, a monitoring dashboard for the clinic to review, and monthly billing codes that reimburse the clinic for remote care time.
What RTM Tracks
| What's Monitored | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Exercise compliance | Confirms patients are completing prescribed Home Exercise Programs (HEPs) |
| Pain levels | Flags worsening symptoms before the next visit |
| Range of motion / mobility | Objectively measures functional progress |
| Patient-reported feedback | Lets therapists adjust care plans in real time |
A Typical RTM Workflow
- Enroll the patient.
Therapist assigns a Home Exercise Program through the RTM platform at the start of care. - Patient logs daily activity.
Patient records exercises, pain scores, and symptoms via a mobile app. - Clinic reviews the dashboard.
Platform aggregates incoming data into a dashboard for the clinic to review. - Monthly check-in.
Therapist or qualified staff completes at least one interactive communication session per month with the patient. - Bill the appropriate CPT codes.
Clinic bills based on setup, data transmission, and time spent on remote management.
RTM Billing: CPT Codes and Reimbursement (2026)
Four CPT codes cover RTM for musculoskeletal conditions. Each serves a distinct billing purpose.
| CPT Code | Description | Billing Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 98975 | Initial setup and patient education on the RTM device | Once per episode of care |
| 98977 | Device/app supply for daily recordings and data transmission, musculoskeletal system | Monthly |
| 98980 | Treatment management, first 20 minutes per calendar month. Requires at least one live interaction with the patient | Monthly |
| 98981 | Treatment management, each additional 20 minutes per month | Monthly (as needed) |
Clinics that consistently bill 98977 and 98980 see an average of $165 in additional monthly reimbursement per enrolled patient, based on PhyxUp internal data. A clinic enrolling 20 patients can add over $3,000 per month without increasing visit volume.
Medicare Part B covers RTM for physical therapy when properly documented. Many commercial payers have adopted similar coverage policies, though individual plan terms should be verified before enrollment.
Benefits of RTM for Small Independent PT Clinics
- New revenue without more patient visits. RTM billing codes reimburse for time spent reviewing data and communicating with patients remotely. This work complements in-clinic care rather than replacing it.
- Higher HEP adherence. Patients with monitored home exercise programs tend to complete their assigned exercises more consistently than those without remote check-ins. Consistent adherence correlates with faster recovery timelines.
- Earlier intervention. Real-time pain and activity data lets therapists catch setbacks before the next scheduled visit. A flare-up or missed week of exercises gets addressed in days, not weeks.
- Competitive differentiation. For small clinics competing against larger groups, offering RTM signals a tech-forward, outcomes-focused practice.
How to Implement RTM in Your Clinic: A 3-Step Framework
Step 1: Assess Fit
Estimate how many active patients have musculoskeletal diagnoses with a home exercise component. Start with a pilot of 10-15 patients before clinic-wide rollout.
Step 2: Choose an RTM Platform
Look for a platform that is HIPAA-compliant, integrates with your existing EMR, and is designed specifically for physical therapy workflows. Platforms adapted from chronic disease RPM tools often create unnecessary friction for PT staff and patients.
PhyxUp Health is built specifically for outpatient PT clinics with 1-5 therapists, combining patient monitoring, automated SOAP note documentation, and CPT billing support in one system.
Step 3: Train Staff and Patients
Therapists need to know how to interpret RTM data and apply it to treatment planning. Billing staff need to understand the monthly documentation requirements for 98980 and 98981. Patients need a 5-minute onboarding at the first visit. Clinics that build this into the intake process report stronger long-term adoption.
Common RTM Adoption Challenges (and How to Solve Them)
| Challenge | Solution |
|---|---|
| Upfront cost concerns | Choose platforms with per-patient pricing. Reimbursement typically offsets the platform cost within the first month of consistent enrollment |
| Data privacy / HIPAA compliance | Select a platform that is HIPAA-compliant by design and provides a signed Business Associate Agreement (BAA) |
| Patient hesitation, especially older adults | Use platforms with simplified interfaces and built-in onboarding walkthroughs designed for all age groups |
| Staff time for monthly check-ins | Use platforms that automate reminders and surface only patients who need attention, rather than requiring manual review of every record |
RTM in Practice: What Small Clinics See in the First 90 Days
Clinics that enroll a portion of their active caseload in RTM typically report three changes within the first 60-90 days:
- A new monthly reimbursement line item that grows with enrollment
- Higher HEP completion rates among monitored patients
- Fewer unexpected setbacks discovered only at the next in-person visit
Frequently Asked Questions
Is RTM the same as telehealth?
No. Telehealth replaces an in-person visit with a video session. RTM supplements in-person visits by monitoring patients between appointments. A live video session is not required for most RTM billing codes. The exception is the monthly interactive communication required for CPT 98980.
Can RTM be billed alongside regular PT visits?
Yes. RTM codes are billed in addition to standard evaluation and treatment codes for the same patient. Documentation requirements for each must be met independently.
What is the difference between RTM and RPM?
RPM (Remote Patient Monitoring) uses CPT codes 99453-99458 and is designed for physiologic data such as blood pressure or glucose levels. It is typically billed by physicians. RTM uses CPT codes 98975-98981 and is designed for musculoskeletal and respiratory conditions. Physical therapists, occupational therapists, and other qualified providers can bill RTM directly.
How long does it take to see ROI from RTM?
Clinics that maintain consistent enrollment and complete monthly billing documentation typically see RTM revenue offset platform costs within the first billing cycle. Net positive revenue is common from the second month onward.
Does patient age affect RTM adoption?
It can, but the bigger factor is platform design. Clinics using apps with simplified interfaces and guided onboarding report strong adoption across all age groups, including patients over 65.
How many patients need to be enrolled for RTM to be worth it?
At $165 average monthly reimbursement per patient, a clinic enrolling 10 patients nets approximately $1,650 per month. Most clinics find that 15-20 enrolled patients makes RTM a meaningful and sustainable revenue stream.
Choosing the Right RTM Platform for Your Clinic
When evaluating RTM platforms, small clinic owners should prioritize four criteria:
- HIPAA compliance with a signed BAA
- EMR/EHR integration that eliminates duplicate data entry
- A patient-facing interface simple enough for all age groups
- Built-in CPT documentation and billing support
PhyxUp Health was built around these four priorities for outpatient PT clinics with 1-5 therapists. It combines real-time patient tracking, automated documentation, and billing support in one system designed to reduce administrative time, not add to it.