Part of Remote Therapeutic Monitoring
CPT 98979: RTM treatment management, 10-19 minutes
Short-duration alternative to 98980 for months where 10 to 19 minutes of treatment management time were documented.
Time threshold & code combinations
10 to 19 minutes of treatment management time, plus at least one interactive communication, per calendar month.
- Mutually exclusive with 98980 for the same month
Who can bill
- Physicians and non-physician practitioners who can bill E/M services
- Physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists furnishing RTM under a therapy plan of care
Eligibility & billing requirements
- Active RTM episode with data being collected during the month
- At least one interactive, real-time communication with the patient or caregiver during the month
When to use it
Lighter-touch monthly check-in
A patient's rehab progress was on track, so the practitioner spends 12 minutes reviewing the data and confirming by phone that the plan is working.
Billing: 98979
Documentation checklist
- Time log showing 10-19 minutes
- Record of the interactive communication
Common billing mistakes
- Billing 98980 when time actually only reached the 98979 range
- Billing both 98980 and 98979 for the same patient in the same month