CMS Finalizes 2026 RPM & RTM Code Updates: What This Means for Your RPM & RTM Program
Published by LucidAct Health | lucidact.com
Expanded Opportunities for Remote Patient Care and Reimbursement!
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) officially displayed the Final Rule for the 2026 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) on October 31, 2025, and it will be published in the Federal Register on November 5, 2025.
This final rule confirms new CPT codes for Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) and Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM)—set to take effect on January 1, 2026.
These updates expand how healthcare organizations can engage patients remotely, reduce administrative barriers, and unlock more reimbursement opportunities across chronic and post-acute care populations.
Key Takeaways
- MORE FLEXIBILITY: Fewer required monitoring days mean faster reimbursement cycles.
- LOWER TIME THRESHOLDS: Shorter clinician review times are now eligible for billing.
- NEW REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES: Engage more patients and capture additional billable events.
New Codes Effective January 1, 2026
Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM)
- 99455 — 2–15 days of patient readings
- 99470 — First 10 minutes of clinical monitoring time
Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM)
- 98984 — 2–15 days of readings (Respiratory conditions)
- 98985 — 2–15 days of readings (Musculoskeletal conditions)
- 98979 — First 10 minutes of clinical monitoring time
What This Means for RPM and RTM Programs
These updates mark a major turning point for remote care delivery. Previously, providers could only bill for RPM or RTM after 16 days of patient data collection and higher clinical time thresholds. The 2026 CMS final rule acknowledges that valuable interventions often occur much earlier.
Here's what this means in practice:
- Shorter monitoring windows — Providers can now bill after just 2–15 days of readings, enabling reimbursement for more patients and shorter engagement periods.
- Lower time thresholds — Only 10 minutes of documented clinical time qualifies for billing, rewarding proactive follow-up and timely reviews.
- More inclusive patient populations — Patients who begin monitoring mid-month or have intermittent data can now count toward reimbursement.
- Higher ROI for providers — Teams can increase billable activity without expanding staff or infrastructure.
In short, CMS is affirming that remote monitoring is now an integral part of care — not an add-on.
With these 2026 CPT code changes, RPM and RTM programs become more scalable, profitable, and provider-friendly. Now is the time to update your workflows, EHR integrations, and billing processes to fully leverage these opportunities.
It's time to prepare for 2026.
LucidAct Health helps organizations like yours optimize care coordination, compliance, and reimbursement under the latest CMS guidelines.
Contact us today to learn how to update your RPM workflows, train your teams, and prepare for the 2026 CMS transition.
Request the LucidAct APCM Digital Practice GuideDiscover how leading practices are using 2026 changes to build stronger, more profitable care management programs.