98981Remote therapeutic monitoring — each additional 20 minutes
The add-on for each further 20 minutes of RTM management time.
2026 national amount
$41.80
Billing cadence
Per calendar month, add-on
Code family
RTM
- A full additional 20 minutes
- 98980 already met for the month
- Add-on to 98980 only
Who can bill it
Same as 98980.
Other RTM codes.
- 98975One-time setup and education when a patient starts on therapeutic monitoring
- 98977Monthly device supply for musculoskeletal-system therapeutic monitoring
- 98986The 2026 short-duration supply code for cognitive behavioral therapy monitoring
- 98980The first 20 minutes of therapeutic-monitoring management time in a calendar month
- 98979The 2026 short-duration RTM management code, for months with 10–19 minutes
- 98976Monthly device supply for respiratory-system therapeutic monitoring
- 98984The 2026 short-duration supply code for respiratory therapeutic monitoring
- 98985The 2026 short-duration supply code for musculoskeletal therapeutic monitoring
- 98978Monthly device supply for cognitive behavioral therapy monitoring
A code is a claim. Documentation is the proof.
Most denied monitoring claims fail on documented time, consent, or the interactive communication — not on choosing the wrong code. We build the workflow so the record is made as the care happens.
CPT 98981, in plain terms.
What is CPT 98981?
Remote therapeutic monitoring — each additional 20 minutes. The add-on for each further 20 minutes of RTM management time.
What does CPT 98981 require?
A full additional 20 minutes. 98980 already met for the month.
Who can bill CPT 98981?
Same as 98980.
- 99445 (2–15 days) and 99454 (16–30 days) cannot be billed in the same 30-day period
- 98984/98976 and 98985/98977 follow the same rule
- 99470 (10 min) and 99457 (20 min) cannot be billed in the same month
- 98979 (10 min) and 98980 (20 min) follow the same rule
- Add-on codes (99458/98981) only pair with the 20-minute base codes
- RPM and RTM cannot be billed for the same patient in the same month
- All treatment management codes require at least one live interactive communication per month
- 99454 requires automatic data transmission from the device
- Minimum 2 days of data transmission for all device supply codes
Amounts shown are 2026 national figures and are an estimate, not a quote — actual payment varies by locality, payer, and documented time. This reference is a summary for planning, not billing advice or a substitute for the current fee schedule and payer policy.
Billing 98981 correctly is the whole job.
We run the RTM program and the revenue cycle behind it — documented time, consent, and claims handled as part of the care rather than after it.