What is Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM)?
Remote Therapeutic Monitoring services monitor health conditions, including musculoskeletal system status, respiratory system status, therapy (medication) adherence and pain scores. RTM is intended for the management of patients utilizing a medical device that collects non-physiological data. RTM is a form of accountability, holding patients responsible for following the direction of their provider, while also proving that they have done so. As a result, patients see better outcomes and increased improvements in their conditions as they are more likely to follow the guidance. It also gives the provider more information on what has transpired with their patients in between office visits. Patients can now use self-reported data to confirm medication compliance, report their daily level of pain, report their mood, report improvement from pain procedures, fill out post procedure surveys and more- all at the touch of a button on our DocuVitals App! There is no restrictive medical device needed with RTM, so the patient can report from the comfort of their own home, on vacation or on the go!
Goals of RTM?
1. To Provide real-time data, including whether patients are adhering to their home
therapy and whether their patients pain/function/mood is improving. This way,
the provider can have the most comprehensive information to oversee their care
plan.
2. RTM lets providers manage acute and chronic conditions while simultaneously
cutting down on patients’ travel costs and infection risks. It delivers an easy and
convenient solution for patients to self report while in the comfort of their own
home or while traveling.
Benefits of RTM?
1. Increased communication keeps you up to date on your patients progress.
improvements/weaknesses in between office visits.
2. Improved patient compliance and adherence to treatment plans and progress
reports through continuous monitoring.
3. Trackable patient outcomes to improve success within your practice.
Specifications with CPT Codes
CPT# 98975
Once per episode/ $19.32*
Remote therapeutic monitoring (e.g. respiratory system status, musculoskeletal system status, therapy adherence, therapy response); initial set-up and patient education on use of equipment
CPT# 98977
Once each 30 days/$50.15*
Remote therapeutic monitoring (e.g. respiratory system status, musculoskeletal system status, therapy adherence, therapy response); device(s) supply with scheduled (e.g. daily) recording(s) and/or programmed alert(s) transmission to monitor musculoskeletal system, each 30 days
CPT# 98980
Once per calendar month/$49.48*
Remote therapeutic monitoring treatment, physician/other qualified health care professional time in a calendar month requiring at least one interactive communication with the patient/caregiver during the calendar month; first 20 minutes
CPT#98981
Multiple times per calendar month/$39.65*
Additional Billing information:
Remote therapeutic monitoring treatment, physician/other qualified health care professional time in a calendar month requiring at least one interactive communication with the patient/caregiver during the calendar month; each additional 20 minutes
CPT codes 98975, 98976, 98977 and 98978 require the RTM device to monitor at least 16 days of data per each 30-day period, in total.
CPT code 98980 requires a minimum of 20 minutes of time in a month dedicated to RTM treatment management of the patient. This time must also include at least one interactive communication with the patient during the month (i.e., via phone or video). CPT code 98981 has the same requirements as CPT code 98980, except it is used for an additional 20 minutes per month, as an add-on code.
Only one practitioner can bill CPT codes 98975, 98976, 98977 and 98978 during a 30-day period and only when at least 16 days of data have been collected on at least one medical device. “Even when multiple medical devices are provided to a patient,” CMS explained, “the services associated with all the medical devices can be billed by only one practitioner, only once per patient, per 30-day period, and only when at least 16 days of data have been collected.”
Our DocuVitals APP
Our easy to use app allows our patients to self report pain scales and pin-point their pain on a body silhouette that gives their provider real time and accurate data. Additionally, the patient can also document their medication and their compliance with taking it! There are convenient reminders that will alert the patient when it is time to take their medication as well as when they should take a pain score! This makes it effortless for the patient and most helpful for the treatment provider to see a history of the patients day to day issues. We also offer the patients an easy to use messaging feature to communicate directly with medical support staff 24/7!
