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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesRemote Therapeutic Monitoring Treatment Management ServicesCPT cpt-98980-remote-therapeutic-monitoring-management-20-min-month
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    CPT 98980: Remote Therapeutic Monitoring Management, Real‑time Communication

    Medicare pays $56 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 98980 describes remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM) management in which a physician or qualified healthcare professional provides at least 20 minutes of management time during a month using RTM data and conducts at least one real‑time interactive communication with the patient or caregiver; the service type is remote therapeutic monitoring management and the typical site of service is telehealth/virtual care or outpatient clinic supporting remote care.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Orthopedic Joint Procedures of the Knee for Managed Medicaid (MMC), Health and Recovery Plan (HARP), Child Health Plus (CHP), and Essential Plan (EP) Members, Autologous Chondrocyte Transplantation or Implantation Corporate Medical Policy, Autologous Platelet-Derived Growth Factors (Platelet-Rich Plasma [PRP]).

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 58-year-old patient with chronic low back pain and a history of lumbar radiculopathy is enrolled in a remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM) program for adherence and response to a home-based neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) device and activity monitoring. The clinician reviews device-transmitted data (pain scores, device usage minutes, activity steps, and muscle stimulation sessions) and conducts at least one real-time interactive communication (telephone or secure video) with the patient or caregiver during the month. The provider documents a focused review of RTM data, adjusts the therapeutic plan (for example, modifying stimulation parameters, prescribing a care-plan change, or recommending in-person evaluation), and spends at least 20 minutes of physician or qualified healthcare professional time managing the RTM data and communicating with the patient.

    Typical workflow:

    • Patient setup and device onboarding occurs in clinic or via remote instruction; device streams usage and biometric data to the clinician portal.

    • Throughout the month the clinician or clinical staff reviews transmitted RTM data for adherence and response; abnormal trends prompt outreach.

    • Provider conducts at least one synchronous real-time communication with the patient/caregiver during the month (documented date, duration, and clinical content).

    • Provider documents total professional time ≥20 minutes for the calendar month attributable to collection, interpretation, and management of RTM data and patient communication, then bills 98980 for the month of service.

    Typical site of service: outpatient clinic, physician office, or via telehealth as part of remote monitoring program. Typical patient: adult with chronic musculoskeletal pain, orthopedic postoperative rehabilitation, or neuromuscular dysfunction using RTM devices for therapeutic management.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    98981The provider manages treatment using RTM data; requires at least one real-time interactive communication with the patient or caregiver during the month and at least 30 minutes of physician or qualified health care professional timeBilled when total professional management time for the month meets or exceeds 30 minutes instead of the 20 minutes required for 98980.
    99457Remote physiologic monitoring treatment management services, 20 minutes or more of clinical staff/physician/other qualified healthcare professional time in a calendar month requiring interactive communication with the patient/caregiver during the monthRelated RTM/RPM code for physiologic data (e.g., blood pressure, glucose); may be used when physiologic monitoring rather than therapeutic device data is the primary service.
    99458Remote physiologic monitoring add-on code, each additional 20 minutesAdd-on to 99457 when additional time is spent managing physiologic monitoring beyond the initial 20 minutes; analogous time-based add-ons may apply to RTM workflows.

    Related Modifiers

    10 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    25CPT modifier 25 indicates that on the same day as another procedure or service, the same physician or other qualified health care professional provided a significant, separately identifiable…- When to apply: Use modifier 25 only on an E/M code to indicate the same provider delivered a significant, separately identifiable E/M service on the same day as another procedure or service — i.e.,…
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    95Modifier 95 indicates that a service was provided via synchronous, real‑time audio‑video telehealth rather than in‑person. Per CMS, AAPC and professional associations, append modifier 95 to claim…- Use modifier 95 to indicate a service was furnished via synchronous, real‑time audiovisual telehealth (a live audio‑video conference between patient and provider) rather than in‑person. - Pair…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
    78CPT modifier -78 indicates an unplanned, related return to the operating or procedure room by the same provider during the global postoperative period. It is appended when treatment for a…- Use modifier -78 when an unplanned, related complication during the original procedure’s global postoperative period requires the patient to return to a formal operating or procedure room and the…
    80CPT® Modifier 80 (Assistant Surgeon) is appended to a surgical CPT code when a physician (MD or DO) provides full, continuous assistance throughout the operative procedure. It is intended only for…- Use CPT Modifier -80 when a physician (MD or DO) serves as an assistant surgeon and provides full, continuous assistance throughout the entire operative procedure; append -80 to the surgical CPT…
    82Modifier 82 is appended to a surgical CPT code to indicate that an attending physician acted as an assistant because a qualified resident surgeon was unavailable. In teaching hospitals it documents…- When to use: Append modifier 82 in teaching-hospital settings to indicate a physician served as an assistant surgeon because a qualified resident surgeon was unavailable (includes situations where…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207L00000X
    208D00000X
    207Q00000X
    231H00000X
    156FX1201X
    364SF0001X
    207SG0207X
    207ZP0105X

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Orthopedics/Musculoskeletal1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Orthopedic Joint Procedures of the Knee for Managed Medicaid (MMC), Health and Recovery Plan (HARP), Child Health Plus (CHP), and Essential Plan (EP) Membersuniverahealthcare2027-01-01
    Autologous Chondrocyte Transplantation or Implantation Corporate Medical Policybcbsvermont2026-12-01
    Autologous Platelet-Derived Growth Factors (Platelet-Rich Plasma [PRP])Cigna2026-10-15
    Metatarsophalangeal Joint ReplacementCigna2026-10-15
    Shoulder Arthroplasty (Total, Partial, Reverse, Revision and Resurfacing)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    Hip Arthroplasty (partial and total hip replacement)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    Artificial Lumbar Intervertebral Disc (Lumbar Total Disc Arthroplasty)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    Osteochondral Grafting of the Kneeuniverahealthcare2026-10-15
    Metal-on-Metal Total Hip Resurfacinguniverahealthcare2026-10-15
    Lumbar Fusion (arthrodesis) with decompressionuniverahealthcare2026-10-15

    Related Codes

    CPT-98979-REMOTE-THERAPEUTIC-MONITORING-MANAGEMENT

    CPT 98979: Remote Therapeutic Monitoring Management with Interactive Communication

    CPT-98981-REMOTE-THERAPEUTIC-MONITORING-MANAGEMENT-20-MIN-ADD-ON

    CPT 98981: Remote Therapeutic Monitoring Management, Additional 20 Min

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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    Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

    Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.

    99091Collection and interpretation of physiologic data digitally stored and/or transmitted by the patient to the physician, requiring a minimum of 30 minutes of timeMay be used for non-billable or legacy data management services where criteria meet this code's requirements and payor allows.
    E/M (Office visit codes)Office or other outpatient evaluation and management servicesUsed when an in-person or telehealth E/M visit is performed in addition to RTM management; append 25 when billed same day with 98980.

    Note: If a specific payor requires different RTM or RPM codes, provider billing follows payor policy and code time thresholds.