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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesRemote Therapeutic Monitoring Treatment Management ServicesCPT cpt-98981-remote-therapeutic-monitoring-management-20-min-add-on
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    CPT 98981: Remote Therapeutic Monitoring Management, Additional 20 Min

    Medicare pays $43 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 98981 is an add-on service for remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM) that describes each additional 20 minutes of physician or qualified healthcare professional time managing treatment based on RTM data, and it requires at least one real-time interactive communication with the patient or caregiver during the month; service type: remote therapeutic monitoring management and clinician time, typical site of service: outpatient clinic or virtual/telehealth setting where clinician-patient real-time interaction is feasible.

    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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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 58-year-old patient with chronic low back pain enrolled in a remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM) program uses a wearable sensor and an app to transmit activity and pain-related metrics daily. The treating physiatrist reviews aggregated RTM data and adjusts the therapeutic plan. During the month, the clinician conducts at least one real-time interactive communication (video or telephone) with the patient to discuss symptom trends, medication tolerance, and changes to the home exercise program. The provider documents time spent managing the RTM data and the interactive encounter. When management time for the month exceeds the primary RTM service time, an additional 20-minute unit of clinician work is billed using 98981 as an add-on to the primary RTM service. Typical workflow: enrollment and device setup, daily data review by clinical staff, clinician review and decision-making, real-time patient communication, documentation of cumulative time and clinical actions, and billing of the primary RTM code with 98981 for each additional 20 minutes beyond the primary service.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    98980Remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM) treatment management services; initial 20 minutes of RTM care management services per month requiring at least one interactive communication with the patient/caregiverPrimary RTM service to which 98981 is an add-on for each additional 20 minutes.
    99457Remote physiologic monitoring treatment management services, first 20 minutes of clinical staff/physician/other qualified healthcare professional time in a calendar month requiring interactive communicationAlternative remote monitoring code for physiologic data; may be used in workflows where physiologic monitoring rather than therapeutic monitoring is billed.
    99458Remote physiologic monitoring treatment management services; each additional 20 minutesComparable add-on to 99457, used when additional time is required for RPM rather than RTM.
    99091Collection and interpretation of physiologic data digitally stored and/or transmitted by the patient to the physician, requiring a minimum of 30 minutes of timeUsed for non-RTM data interpretation workflows where time thresholds and payer rules differ; may be billed when criteria are met instead of RTM.
    97750Physical performance test or measurement (e.g., musculoskeletal function tests)Often performed in conjunction with RTM programs to establish baseline function and track progress.
    99421Online digital evaluation and management service, for an established patient, for up to 7 days, cumulative time during the 7 daysMay be used for asynchronous digital communications that complement RTM synchronous encounters.

    Related Modifiers

    11 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.,…
    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…
    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…
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
    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…

    Showing 1–10 of 11

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    2084P0800X
    207RH0000X
    207L00000X
    207Q00000X
    207T00000X
    1744P3200X
    207RH0005X
    2278P1004X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    25 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    E11.21Type 2 diabetes mellitus with diabetic nephropathy
    E11.9Type 2 diabetes mellitus without complications
    E66.9Obesity, unspecified
    F32.9Major depressive disorder, single episode, unspecified
    F41.9Anxiety disorder, unspecified
    G43.909Migraine, unspecified, not intractable, without status migrainosus
    G47.00Insomnia, unspecified
    I10Essential (primary) hypertension
    I25.10Atherosclerotic heart disease of native coronary artery without angina pectoris
    I50.9Heart failure, unspecified

    Showing 1–10 of 25

    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-98980-REMOTE-THERAPEUTIC-MONITORING-MANAGEMENT-20-MIN-MONTH

    CPT 98980: Remote Therapeutic Monitoring Management, Real‑time Communication

    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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