With the rapid advancement of digital health, Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) and Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) have emerged as essential tools for providers delivering virtual care. While both fall under CMS-reimbursable services, they differ significantly in terms of purpose, data types, provider eligibility, billing codes, and clinical applications.
This guide offers an in-depth comparison of RPM and RTM to help healthcare organizations, clinicians, and billing teams make informed decisions.
Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) refers to the use of FDA-cleared medical devices to collect and transmit physiological data from a patient in a non-clinical setting, usually their home, to a healthcare provider for assessment and treatment planning. RPM monitoring involves automated data transmission, with minimal patient interaction required beyond using the device correctly.
Blood pressure
Heart rate
Blood glucose
Weight
Pulse oximetry
Manage chronic conditions (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, CHF)
Detect early signs of deterioration
Reduce ER visits and hospital admissions
Remote patient monitoring weight scale
Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM), introduced by CMS in 2022, focuses on tracking non-physiological data, such as therapy adherence, pain levels, respiratory function, and musculoskeletal status. RTM is designed primarily for rehabilitation, behavioral health, and medication adherence programs. Unlike RPM, RTM can incorporate self-reported data and does not require automated transmission.
Tracks patient-reported outcomes, such as pain, therapy adherence
Uses software-based medical devices or mobile apps
Supports physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and pharmacists in providing reimbursable remote care
| Feature | RPM | RTM |
| Focus | Physiological monitoring | Therapeutic/behavioral monitoring |
| Data Type | Objective (e.g., vitals) | Subjective/function-based (e.g., pain, therapy progress) |
| Devices Used | FDA-cleared devices with automatic transmission | Software or apps or smart devices, may allow manual entry |
| Billing Codes (CPT) | 99453–99458, 99091 | 98975–98981 |
| Provider Types | Physicians, NPs, PAs, clinical staff (under MD) | physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, pharmacists |
| Common Conditions | Diabetes, hypertension, CHF, COPD | Asthma, post-op rehab, musculoskeletal pain |
| Data Transmission | Automatically, minimum 16 days per 30-day cycle | Manual or automatic, 16 days recommended |
| Patient Relationship | Must be established before RPM begins | Can be new or established |
| Incident-To Billing | Allowed | Allowed, under therapist supervision |
99453 – Device setup and patient education, one-time billing
99454 – Device supply and daily data transmission, billed every 30 days
99457 – 20 minutes of treatment management, including interactive communication
99458 – Additional 20 minutes, up to 60 mins/month
99091 – Physician/QHP data review and management, minimum 30 minutes per month
98975 – Initial setup and patient education
98976 – Supply of respiratory system monitoring equipment (monthly)
98977 – Supply of musculoskeletal monitoring equipment (monthly)
98978 – NEW: Software for cognitive behavioral therapy monitoring
98980 – 20 minutes of RTM treatment management
98981 – Additional 20 minutes, incremental billing
RPM patient monitoring is particularly well-suited for patients managing chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, congestive heart failure, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. These patients benefit from continuous tracking of vital signs like blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, and glucose levels, allowing providers to detect early signs of deterioration and intervene proactively. RPM is also ideal for elderly or high-risk patients who require close physiological monitoring post-hospital discharge, helping to reduce readmissions and emergency room visits. By leveraging FDA-approved devices that transmit data automatically, clinicians can maintain a consistent understanding of a patient’s condition without requiring frequent in-person appointments.
RTM has good performance in areas where behavioral, functional, or subjective data is key to treatment success. For example, RTM is effective in monitoring recovery after orthopedic surgeries such as knee or hip replacements, where a physical therapist can track range of motion, pain levels, and adherence to rehabilitation exercises. Similarly, RTM supports respiratory care by enabling tracking of inhaler use, symptom severity, and adherence to therapy plans for conditions like asthma or COPD. It is also valuable in pain management programs, where therapists or providers monitor medication adherence, report changes in discomfort, and adjust therapy accordingly. Because RTM allows patients to self-report data through apps or digital tools, it offers a flexible, cost-effective solution for functional monitoring that complements in-person rehabilitation or behavioral health strategies.
Cannot bill RPM and RTM for the same patient in the same month.
Only one provider can bill device codes (99454 or 98976/77) per patient, per month.
RPM requires an established patient relationship; RTM does not.
All billing providers must properly document 20-minute interactive sessions for management codes.
Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) can use G0511 for simplified digital service billing.
Data collection must meet the 16-day threshold for most monthly service codes.
Device services cannot overlap (e.g., two providers billing RPM codes in the same month for one patient).
RTM is expected to expand rapidly as CMS explores broader use cases. Hybrid models may emerge, combining RPM for vitals with RTM for functional outcomes in chronic condition care. Some RPM vendors are building unified platforms that support both RPM and RTM workflows, improving provider efficiency.
Both RPM and RTM provide value through remote monitoring, but they serve different clinical purposes and provider types. RPM and RTM are not competing services—they are complementary tools. The right choice depends on your specialty, the type of patient data you need, and your care delivery model. Knowing the right model for your practice is crucial for delivering high-quality, reimbursable care. Use RPM when physiological tracking is the goal, with direct physician oversight; Use RTM when therapy adherence, rehabilitation, or behavior tracking is needed—especially for therapists and rehab specialists. By understanding their distinctions and billing requirements, providers can leverage both services to enhance patient outcomes and streamline virtual care delivery.
No. CMS guidelines prohibit billing both RPM and RTM for the same patient in the same 30-day period, even if the services are addressing different conditions.
RPM uses FDA-cleared medical devices that automatically capture and transmit physiological data. RTM uses software-based medical devices, apps, or smart tools that track subjective data, including patient-reported outcomes.
Yes. Verbal or written patient consent is required before initiating RPM or RTM services. Documentation must be included in the patient’s medical record.
RPM requires an established patient relationship, such as prior in-person or virtual visit. RTM allows services to begin with new or established patients, offering more flexibility.
Yes, for RPM, data must be automatically transmitted from the device to the provider’s system. For RTM, data can be manually entered by the patient through software or mobile apps, making it more flexible.
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