Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) is changing how healthcare providers can stay in contact with patients between clinic visits. It gives chiropractors a way to track a patient’s therapeutic progress, compliance, and response to treatment without requiring the patient to go to the clinic.
It can be confusing to understand remote therapeutic monitoring billing and RTM codes. Which of the codes relate to musculoskeletal conditions? How many days of data are needed? What is meant by treatment-management time? And what changes were there to the RTM codes in 2026?
In this blog, we are going to explain the main RTM CPT codes for chiropractors, the purpose of each code, when to bill them, documentation requirements and more.
What is Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM)?
Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) enables wellness providers to keep an eye on data relating to a patient’s therapeutic treatment which is not physiological and allows them to see how patients are getting on with their treatment between visits to the clinic.
For chiropractors, RTM is especially relevant in the case of musculoskeletal conditions, since a great deal of the patient’s progress will depend on the things they do at home, for example, carrying out exercise programs, finishing the prescribed therapy, or reporting any changes in symptoms.
Rather than depending just on what the patient remembers to tell you at their next appointment, RTM can offer extra information regarding the patient’s participation and response to the therapeutic programme.
How Does RTM Work?
A typical RTM workflow looks like this:
- Identify the patient: The chiropractor decides if remote monitoring is suitable as part of the patient’s treatment plan.
- Arrange the technology: The patient is entered into the correct RTM program and is given instructions on how to use it. The patient finishes their course of therapy. The patient carries out their prescribed therapeutic program at home. Data is gathered remotely. The technology gathers relevant therapeutic data, for example, information concerning adherence or response to treatment. The chiropractor looks after and handles the treatment. The chiropractor uses the information in order to keep an eye on progress, discuss it with the patient, and make the necessary adjustments to the treatment plan. As a result, the treatment relationship can carry on during office visits rather than ending when the patient leaves the clinic.
Understanding the RTM CPT Codes for Chiropractic Practices
The RTM code set can look complicated at first, but the codes become easier to understand when you group them into three parts: initial setup, remote monitoring, and treatment management.
For chiropractic practices focused on musculoskeletal care, the most relevant codes are 98975, 98985, 98977, 98979, 98980, and 98981. The 2026 updates are particularly important because they introduced shorter monitoring and treatment-management options.
1. CPT 98975: Initial Setup and Patient Education
98975 CPT code covers the initial setup of the RTM program and educating the patient on how to use the monitoring technology.
For example, a chiropractor may enroll a patient with chronic low-back pain into an RTM program, explain how to use the technology, and provide instructions for completing the prescribed therapeutic activities.
This RTM billing code is associated with the initial setup and education rather than ongoing monthly monitoring.
2. CPT 98985: 2-15 Days of Musculoskeletal Monitoring
New for 2026, CPT 98985 covers device supply and data transmission for monitoring the musculoskeletal system for 2-15 days during a 30-day period.
This can be particularly relevant for chiropractic practices treating patients who have shorter treatment episodes or who don’t reach the 16-day threshold required by CPT 98977.
Example:
A patient recovering from a musculoskeletal injury uses an RTM program and generates qualifying data on 10 days during a 30-day period. If all applicable requirements are met, 98985 may be the applicable monitoring code.
Important: 98985 and 98977 should not be billed together for the same monitoring period. 98985 applies to 2-15 days, while 98977 applies to 16-30 days.
3. CPT 98977: 16-30 Days of Musculoskeletal Monitoring
98977 CPT code covers remote therapeutic monitoring of the musculoskeletal system for 16-30 days during a 30-day period.
This is one of the most relevant RTM codes for chiropractors because musculoskeletal conditions are central to many chiropractic treatment plans.
For example, a chiropractor could use RTM to monitor a patient’s participation in a prescribed home therapeutic program and track relevant therapy-response data between office visits.
The key change for 2026 is that 98977 now specifically covers 16-30 days, while 98985 covers the shorter 2-15 day period.
4. CPT 98979: 10-19 Minutes of Treatment Management
CPT 98979 is another new 2026 code. It covers the first 10 minutes of RTM treatment-management services during a calendar month, provided the service includes at least one real-time interactive communication with the patient or caregiver.
This is important because practices no longer need to reach 20 minutes of treatment-management time to potentially report an RTM management code.
Example:
A chiropractor reviews the patient’s RTM information, evaluates progress, discusses the patient’s response during a real-time interaction, and spends 12 minutes managing the patient’s therapeutic program.
98979 should not be reported together with 98980 for the same month.
5. CPT 98980: First 20 Minutes of Treatment Management
98980 CPT code covers the first 20 minutes of RTM treatment-management services during a calendar month and requires at least one real-time interactive communication with the patient or caregiver during that month.
The work may involve reviewing relevant RTM information, assessing the patient’s response to therapy, communicating with the patient, and managing the therapeutic plan.
6. CPT 98981: Each Additional 20 Minutes
98981 CPT code is an add-on code for each additional 20 minutes of RTM treatment-management time beyond the initial 20 minutes represented by 98980.
For example:
- 10-19 minutes: 98979
- 20 minutes: 98980
- Additional 20 minutes: 98981
The treatment-management codes are based on clinical work and time, so practices should maintain documentation that supports the services reported. CMS also provides specific billing guidance around the treatment-management codes.
RTM CPT Codes At a Glance
| CPT Code | What It Covers | When it’s is used | 2026 Medicare National Avg.* |
| 98975 | Initial RTM setup and patient education; requires at least 2 days of monitoring | At the beginning of RTM episode | $21.71 |
| 98985 | RTM device supply for monitoring the musculoskeletal system; 2-15 days of data in a 30-day period | Monthly | $40.08 |
| 98977 | RTM device supply for monitoring the musculoskeletal system; 16-30 days of data in a 30-day period | Monthly | $40.08 |
| 98979 | RTM treatment management; 10-19 minutes in a calendar month, with required real-time interactive communication | Monthly | $26.39 |
| 98980 | RTM treatment management; first 20 minutes in a calendar month, with required real-time interactive communication | Monthly | $54.11 |
| 98981 | Each additional 20 minutes of RTM treatment management beyond 98980 | Monthly | $41.42 |
*These are just estimated reimbursement rates. Contact the insurance payer for accurate rates.
How Does RTM Billing Work for Chiropractors?
Remote Therapeutic Monitoring billing allows chiropractors to report eligible services related to remote monitoring of a patient’s therapeutic data and treatment management. For musculoskeletal care, the 2026 CPT code structure generally breaks RTM into three parts: initial setup, monitoring, and treatment management.
For a typical musculoskeletal RTM program, use these codes:
- 98975: Initial setup and patient education
- 98985: 2-15 days of musculoskeletal monitoring
- 98977: 16-30 days of musculoskeletal monitoring
- 98979: 10-19 minutes of treatment management
- 98980: First 20 minutes of treatment management
- 98981: Each additional 20 minutes of treatment management
What Does a Chiropractor Actually Bill For?
RTM billing is not simply a charge for giving a patient an app or monitoring device. The services must meet the applicable CPT, Medicare, payer, and documentation requirements.
A chiropractic RTM service may involve:
- Setting up the patient and providing education.
- Collecting qualifying therapeutic data through an appropriate RTM technology.
- Reviewing and interpreting information relevant to the patient’s treatment.
- Managing the patient’s therapeutic plan.
- Communicating with the patient or caregiver when required by the applicable code.
- Documenting the services and time needed to support the claim.
Treatment-management time is handled separately. 98979 applies to 10-19 minutes, while 98980 covers the first 20 minutes and 98981 is used for each additional 20 minutes when the applicable requirements are met.
Example of Remote Therapeutic Monitoring CPT Codes in a Chiropractic Practice
A chiropractor treats a patient with chronic low-back pain and incorporates a remote therapeutic monitoring program into the patient’s treatment plan. The patient uses the prescribed technology at home, generating qualifying musculoskeletal data.
The chiropractor then uses that information as part of ongoing treatment management and communicates with the patient as required.
If the patient generates qualifying data on 12 days during the 30-day period, the applicable monitoring code may be 98985 rather than 98977. If the chiropractor also provides 15 minutes of qualifying treatment-management services, 98979 may apply.
The exact codes that can be reported depend on the services actually provided and the applicable payer’s requirements.
RTM Documentation Requirements for Chiropractors
One of the most important parts of RTM billing is SOAP documentation. A practice may meet the time or monitoring-day requirements, but the medical record should still clearly support the services being reported.
For RTM, chiropractors should document enough information to show what was monitored, how the patient participated, what the provider did with the information, and how it supported ongoing treatment. CMS’s 2026 guidance confirms the updated RTM code structure, while documentation requirements remain an important part of appropriate billing.
What Should Chiropractors Document for RTM?
Depending on the code and payer requirements, documentation should address:
- The patient’s condition and reason for RTM
- The therapeutic program or treatment being monitored
- The RTM technology or device being used
- Initial setup and patient education
- The number of days qualifying data was transmitted
- Relevant therapeutic data or patient response
- Treatment-management activities performed by the provider
- Real-time interactive communication with the patient or caregiver, when required
- Time spent on treatment-management services
- Any clinically appropriate changes or decisions resulting from the monitoring
The documentation should connect the RTM service to the patient’s treatment rather than simply stating that data was collected.
A Simple RTM Documentation Checklist
Before submitting an RTM claim, make sure the record supports:
☐ Appropriate patient and treatment plan
☐ RTM technology documented
☐ Setup and patient education documented
☐ Monitoring days documented
☐ Qualifying data transmission documented
☐ Treatment-management time documented
☐ Required patient communication documented
☐ Clinical actions or treatment management documented
☐ Code selected matches the services provided
☐ Payer-specific requirements verified
What are the Common RTM Billing Mistakes Chiropractors Should Avoid?
RTM billing can become complicated when practices focus only on the CPT code and overlook the requirements behind it. Understanding the most common mistakes can help chiropractic practices avoid preventable claim issues.
1. Using 98977 When the Patient Has Fewer Than 16 Monitoring Days
In 2026, 98985 covers 2-15 days of qualifying musculoskeletal monitoring during a 30-day period, while 98977 covers 16-30 days. Choosing the wrong code based on an expected rather than actual monitoring period can create billing problems.
2. Assuming Data Collection Alone Is Enough
RTM is more than collecting patient data. The treatment-management codes involve clinical management and required interactive communication. Simply having a patient use an app or device does not automatically make the service reimbursable.
3. Billing 98979 and 98980 Together
The 2026 addition of 98979 can be confusing. It covers the shorter treatment-management window of 10-19 minutes, while 98980 represents the first 20 minutes. Practices should select the applicable code based on the actual qualifying time rather than reporting both for the same time period.
4. Not Documenting Treatment-Management Time
If a practice reports 98979, 98980, or 98981 RTM billing codes, the medical record should support the treatment-management work and time being reported.
Documentation should make it clear what the provider did, how long the qualifying work took, and how it related to the patient’s care.
5. Treating Every Payer the Same
Medicare rules do not automatically determine how every commercial payer handles RTM. Coverage, reimbursement, modifiers, and other requirements can vary by payer and provider type.
This is particularly important for chiropractors. CMS’s 2026 guidance specifies how RTM codes are treated within Medicare’s therapy framework, including when services must be furnished under a therapy plan of care.
6. Using Outdated RTM Coding Information
If your practice is still using the older RTM structure that only lists 98975, 98977, 98980, and 98981, your reference material may be outdated.
The 2026 code changes added 98985 and 98979 and revised the descriptors for existing monitoring codes to distinguish shorter and longer monitoring periods.
7. Assuming Every RTM Program Qualifies
Not every remote monitoring technology or therapeutic program automatically meets RTM requirements. Practices should verify that the technology, data transmission, clinical services, documentation, and patient circumstances satisfy the applicable CPT and payer requirements.
How Can zHealth Help With RTM Billing?
RTM involves more than monitoring patients. Practices also need to manage documentation, billing, claims, and patient communication. zHealth brings these workflows together in one chiropractic practice management platform.
- Simplify documentation: Create and customize SOAP notes and use voice dictation to document patient care faster.
- Manage billing and claims: Create invoices, submit electronic claims, and track claim status from one system.
- Stay connected with patients: Use two-way texting and other patient communication tools to support ongoing engagement.
- Keep everything in one place: Manage scheduling, charting, billing, payments, and patient engagement from a single platform.
Important: zHealth helps streamline the workflows around documentation and billing, but using zHealth does not automatically make an RTM service reimbursable. Practices should verify current CPT, Medicare, and payer-specific requirements.
Conclusion
RTM codes for chiropractors can help providers extend therapeutic care beyond the office, particularly when managing musculoskeletal conditions.
With the 2026 CPT updates, chiropractors now have additional options for shorter monitoring periods and treatment-management times. But proper coding still depends on qualifying services, accurate documentation, and payer requirements.
Understanding the codes is the first step. The next is building a workflow that makes RTM easier to document, manage, and bill.
Looking for an all-in-one chiropractic EHR and practice management platform? zHealth brings charting, billing, scheduling, payments, and patient engagement together in one system.
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The Complete Handbook to Solving Chiropractic Billing Challenges in 2026
7 Ways Chiropractors Can Improve Billing Collections
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Frequently Asked Questions About RTM CPT Codes
1. What are the RTM CPT codes for chiropractors in 2026?
The primary RTM CPT codes relevant to musculoskeletal care in 2026 are 98975, 98985, 98977, 98979, 98980, and 98981. These codes cover initial setup and education, remote monitoring, and treatment-management services.
2. What is the difference between CPT 98985 and 98977?
CPT 98985 covers 2-15 days of qualifying musculoskeletal monitoring during a 30-day period, while 98977 covers 16-30 days. They should not be billed together for the same monitoring period.
3. Can chiropractors bill for RTM treatment management?
Chiropractors may be able to report RTM treatment-management services when the applicable CPT and payer requirements are met. 98979 covers 10-19 minutes, 98980 covers the first 20 minutes, and 98981 covers each additional 20 minutes. Documentation and payer-specific requirements should be verified before billing.
4. What documentation is required for RTM billing?
Documentation should support the patient’s condition and treatment plan, RTM technology used, patient education and setup, qualifying monitoring days, data transmission, treatment-management activities, required patient communication, and time spent on qualifying services.
5. Does every remote monitoring program qualify for RTM billing?
No. Simply using an app, device, or remote monitoring technology does not automatically qualify a service for RTM reimbursement. Practices should verify that the technology, therapeutic data, clinical services, documentation, and other requirements meet the applicable CPT and payer rules.
