Remote Therapeutic Monitoring in 2026: New Opportunities for Physical Therapy Clinics
Medicare's 2026 code changes make remote therapeutic monitoring a better fit for real plans of care. What changed, what it means for therapy clinics and how to evaluate whether RTM is right for you.
Remote therapeutic monitoring, or RTM, lets clinicians track how patients respond to therapy between visits, such as exercise adherence and therapy response, using data from a device or app. Since Medicare introduced RTM codes in 2022, adoption among therapy practices has been cautious. WebPT's 2023 industry report found that nearly 16% of rehab therapy organizations were using RTM, with another 30.6% of leaders considering it within two years (WebPT).
One reason was structural. The original device-supply codes required at least 16 days of data in a 30-day period, which did not fit many real-world plans of care. The 2026 changes address that directly.
This article is general information, not billing advice. Confirm current rules, payer policies and documentation requirements before billing.
What changed for 2026
The CY 2026 Physician Fee Schedule added new RTM codes that are designated as "sometimes therapy" services, meaning therapists can furnish them under a therapy plan of care (CMS):
- 98985: device supply for monitoring of the musculoskeletal system, 2 to 15 days in a 30-day period.
- 98984: device supply for monitoring of the respiratory system, 2 to 15 days in a 30-day period.
- 98979: treatment management services, first 10 minutes in a calendar month, requiring at least one real-time interactive communication with the patient or caregiver.
The descriptors of the existing device-supply codes 98976 (respiratory) and 98977 (musculoskeletal) were revised to specify 16 to 30 days in a 30-day period.
Why it matters
It fits how patients actually engage
Many patients do not log data every single day. A code that recognizes 2 to 15 days of monitoring matches the reality of a home program done a few times a week.
It rewards shorter, focused management
The new 10-minute treatment management code makes it possible to recognize brief but meaningful monthly check-ins, not only longer reviews.
It pairs naturally with hybrid care
RTM works best as part of a plan that already includes a digital home program and regular contact. Medicare telehealth for therapists has also been extended through December 31, 2027 under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (CMS), so clinics can combine virtual visits and monitoring in one plan.
Is RTM right for your clinic?
Ask these questions before launching a program:
- Which patients benefit? Patients with home programs, chronic conditions or post-surgical protocols are common fits.
- What data will you monitor? Adherence, pain and function check-ins should be clinically meaningful, not just countable.
- Who reviews the data? Monitoring only helps if someone acts on it.
- How will you document? Days of data, time spent and interactive communication each have requirements.
- What do your payers cover? Medicare rules do not automatically apply to commercial or Medicaid plans. Organizations such as the Center for Connected Health Policy track state-level policy.
- Does it improve care? Measure adherence and outcomes, not only billable events.
Building the foundation
Whether or not a clinic bills for RTM, the underlying workflow is valuable on its own: a digital home program, regular patient check-ins, and a clinician who reviews the data and reaches out. That is what keeps patients engaged.
TheraPro Clinical provides that foundation. Home programs with video and dosing live in the patient's branded app, with reminders, streaks and check-ins. Clinic analytics show adherence by patient and therapist, and follow-up queues surface patients who stop checking in. Clinics should confirm with their billing team how this activity maps to RTM requirements before billing any codes.
The opportunity
The 2026 changes do not make RTM simple, but they make it more realistic. For clinics already investing in home programs and between-visit engagement, RTM is increasingly a natural extension of good care rather than a separate program.
