New CPT Codes for Remote Monitoring: July 2026 Update Guide

What's Changing

The American Medical Association (AMA) has approved 8 new CPT codes for Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) services, effective July 1, 2026. These codes expand coverage beyond the existing RTM codes (98975-98981) to include musculoskeletal and respiratory condition monitoring.

The New Codes

Musculoskeletal RTM Codes

989X1 — RTM device supply for musculoskeletal system (e.g., motion sensors, gait analysis devices). *Proposed rate: $64*
989X2 — RTM treatment management services, musculoskeletal, first 20 minutes. *Proposed rate: $51*
989X3 — RTM treatment management services, musculoskeletal, each additional 20 minutes. *Proposed rate: $42*
989X4 — RTM data collection and interpretation, musculoskeletal, 16+ days in 30-day period. *Proposed rate: $73*

Respiratory RTM Codes

989X5 — RTM device supply for respiratory system (e.g., smart inhalers, spirometry devices). *Proposed rate: $58*
989X6 — RTM treatment management services, respiratory, first 20 minutes. *Proposed rate: $51*
989X7 — RTM treatment management services, respiratory, each additional 20 minutes. *Proposed rate: $42*
989X8 — RTM data collection and interpretation, respiratory, 16+ days in 30-day period. *Proposed rate: $73*

Coverage Details

Medicare Coverage

CMS has signaled coverage intent through the CY2026 Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule. National rates are expected to be finalized in November 2025 for CY2026 implementation. The July 2026 effective date allows a 6-month ramp-up period.

Commercial Payers

Early signals suggest major commercial payers will follow Medicare's lead:

UnitedHealthcare: Issued a coverage policy draft in January 2026
Aetna/CVS: Expected to cover under existing RTM policy framework
Anthem/Elevance: No announcement yet, but historically follows within 90 days of Medicare

Billing Guidelines

Key Requirements

Qualifying devices must be FDA-cleared for the specific monitoring application

Minimum 16 days of data collection required per 30-day billing period

Treatment management requires licensed clinical staff (physician, PA, NP, or qualified health professional)

Cannot bill concurrently with existing RPM codes (99453-99458) for the same patient

Documentation Requirements

Signed physician order for RTM services
Clinical indication tied to a qualifying diagnosis
Device setup and patient education documentation
Treatment management notes with clinical decision-making
Data collection logs showing 16+ days of monitoring

Revenue Opportunity

For a practice monitoring 100 patients using both musculoskeletal and respiratory RTM codes:

Service	Monthly Revenue
Device supply	$6,100
Treatment management (20 min)	$5,100
Data collection	$7,300
Total monthly	$18,500
Total annual	$222,000

Implementation Timeline

Now — March 2026: Evaluate qualifying patient populations and device vendors

April — May 2026: Select and procure devices, build EHR documentation templates

June 2026: Staff training and workflow testing

July 1, 2026: Go live with billing

Bottom Line

The new RTM codes represent a significant revenue opportunity for practices already engaged in remote patient monitoring. The key is starting your implementation planning now to be ready for the July 1st effective date. Organizations that move quickly will have a 6-month head start before the market saturates.