Healthcare providers now more than ever are seeking novel ways to improve patient care and generate additional revenue streams in the presence of declining reimbursement rates. Introduced by CMS in 2022, remote therapeutic monitoring CPT codes are revolutionizing the way musculoskeletal care is delivered and paving the way for hybrid models that extend care beyond in-person visits.
Understanding the remote therapeutic monitoring codes
The first step to billing with remote therapeutic monitoring codes is to ensure that you are using the appropriate equipment. You must use an approved medical device that meets all necessary criteria to support the delivery and billing of remote therapeutic monitoring. Some RTM solutions use wearables, while others like OneStep, offer smartphone-only technology that’s able to capture patient data passively and actively.
Next, you must understand the different codes and their requirements. There are five remote therapeutic monitoring codes in total, four of which pertain to the musculoskeletal system. These codes allow qualified healthcare providers to bill for the monitoring of the musculoskeletal system remotely, which can help clinicians deliver proactive interventions and improve clinical outcomes. Keep in mind that remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM) codes are different than remote physiologic (RPM) codes.
RTM CPT Code 98975
This code is for initial setup and patient education regarding the use of the monitoring device. Additionally, data must be transmitted and monitored for at least 16 days after the first measurement is captured. This code can be submitted once per episode of care.
RTM CPT Code 98977
This code is for providing the patient with a medical device that enables scheduled recording(s) and/or programmed alert(s) transmission, to monitor the musculoskeletal system. The type of data collected and transmitted is non-physiologic data that can be objective or patient-reported. Like code 98975, data must be transmitted and monitored for at least 16 days. This code can be submitted once per calendar month.
RTM CPT Code 98980
This code is for the initial remote therapeutic motoring treatment and management services. To meet the requirements for this code, the qualified healthcare provider must have at least one synchronous and interactive communication with the patient, which would include a video conference, in-person meetings, or audio call happening in real time. Other activities that count towards this code can include reviewing patient data, modifying home exercise programs, updating the plan of care, and responding to patient chats/video messages. For billing, the total amount of time for all appropriate activities (including the interactive communication) must be at least a full 20 minutes. This code can be submitted once per calendar month and only for the first 20 minutes of remote treatment and interaction.
RTM CPT Code 98981
This code is for billing each additional 20 minutes increments of interactive communication and the time providers spend monitoring and reviewing patient data. This code can be billed per each additional full 20 minutes of interactive communication and monitoring of patient data (following the same requirements of code 98980).
Remote therapeutic monitoring with OneStep
OneStep is the only all-in-one platform that uses smartphone technology to deliver clinically-validated gait and motion analysis without any wearables – making it perfectly suited for remote therapeutic monitoring. OneStep is FDA-listed, so it meets the device requirements for remote therapeutic monitoring and consists of unique features like an automated RTM minute tracker for easy documentation. Unlike other platforms that only capture patient adherence and movement during specific activities, OneStep captures passive and active data which makes meeting the 16-day minimum requirements for data transmission seamless and automatic. Remote therapeutic monitoring with OneStep goes beyond creating an additional revenue source because the objective and patient-reported data OneStep collects helps strengthen your documentation, implement new programs like fall risk assessments, and offers your clinicians unprecedented clinical insight for proactive intervention. OneStep is more than an RTM solution and includes an entire remote care platform with built-in chat and video features, a vast video home exercises library with pre-built templates, and high levels of configuration to meet each user’s unique needs.
OneStep is helping clinics across the US transcend in-person care with remote monitoring and hybrid care models that are revolutionizing the way musculoskeletal care is delivered.
Sources:
CY 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS)
Remote Therapeutic Monitoring: APTA Updates
