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Official Description

Remote therapeutic monitoring (eg, therapy adherence, therapy response, digital therapeutic intervention); initial set-up and patient education on use of equipment

© Copyright 2026 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Common Language Description

A remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM) device is utilized to monitor a patient's adherence to prescribed therapy and their response to treatment. This innovative approach allows healthcare providers, such as physical therapists or physiatrists, to conduct remote home monitoring, particularly beneficial before and after surgical procedures like major joint replacements. The process begins with the patient receiving the RTM device, which resembles a free-standing computer monitor equipped with a camera. During the initial setup, the patient is educated on how to effectively use the device, ensuring they understand its functionalities and the importance of tracking their therapy. The device enables the patient to engage in pre-procedural exercises alongside a computerized avatar, facilitating a guided exercise regimen while simultaneously transmitting usage data back to the therapy practice. This data is crucial for the clinician to assess the patient's progress and adjust treatment plans accordingly. After the surgical procedure, the therapist continues to utilize the RTM device to monitor the patient's daily exercise regimen, providing ongoing support and adjustments as needed. The comprehensive setup process, which includes establishing a login, fitting any wearable components, and training the patient, is essential for ensuring accurate capture of therapeutic data and enhancing the overall effectiveness of the treatment plan.

© Copyright 2026 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.

1. Indications

The remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM) procedure is indicated for patients who require ongoing assessment of their adherence to therapy and response to treatment. This includes individuals preparing for or recovering from surgical interventions, particularly major joint replacements. The use of RTM is beneficial for tracking the effectiveness of prescribed exercises and ensuring that patients are following their rehabilitation protocols as intended.

  • Pre-surgical Monitoring Patients undergoing major joint replacement surgery may use RTM to engage in pre-procedural exercises, ensuring they are physically prepared for the surgery.
  • Post-surgical Rehabilitation After surgery, RTM helps in monitoring the patient's recovery process, allowing for timely adjustments to their therapy based on their progress and feedback.
  • Therapy Adherence The device tracks how consistently patients are following their prescribed exercise regimens, which is crucial for successful rehabilitation outcomes.

2. Procedure

The procedure for remote therapeutic monitoring involves several key steps to ensure effective setup and patient education.

  • Initial Setup The healthcare provider begins by setting up the RTM device, which includes establishing a secure login for the patient. This step is critical for ensuring that the patient's data is protected and accessible only to authorized personnel.
  • Patient Education Following the setup, the patient receives comprehensive training on how to use the RTM device. This includes instructions on accessing the system, understanding its features, and the importance of tracking their therapy adherence and response.
  • Device Fitting If the RTM device includes a wearable component, the healthcare provider adjusts and fits it to the patient. This ensures comfort and accuracy in data collection during the patient's therapy sessions.
  • Testing the Device The RTM device undergoes thorough testing to confirm that it accurately captures digital therapeutic data. This step is essential to ensure that the information collected will be reliable for monitoring the patient's progress.
  • Training on Exercises The patient is trained on how to perform their prescribed therapeutic exercises, which will be tracked and analyzed by the RTM system. This training is vital for maximizing the effectiveness of the rehabilitation process.

3. Post-Procedure

After the initial setup and training, the patient continues to use the RTM device as part of their rehabilitation program. The healthcare provider monitors the patient's progress remotely, allowing for regular check-ins to discuss therapy adherence, pain levels, and any necessary adjustments to the treatment plan. This ongoing support is crucial for ensuring that the patient remains engaged in their recovery and that any issues are addressed promptly. The data collected through the RTM device aids the clinician in tailoring the therapy to meet the patient's specific needs, ultimately enhancing the overall effectiveness of the rehabilitation process.

Short Descr REM THER MNTR 1ST SET-UP&EDU
Medium Descr REMOTE THERAPEUTIC MNTR 1ST SET-UP&PT EDUCAJ EQP
Long Descr Remote therapeutic monitoring (eg, therapy adherence, therapy response, digital therapeutic intervention); initial set-up and patient education on use of equipment
Status Code Active Code
Global Days XXX - Global Concept Does Not Apply
PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) 0 - Physician Service Code
Multiple Procedures (51) 0 - No payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures apply.
Bilateral Surgery (50) 0 - 150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures does NOT apply.
Physician Supervisions 09 - Concept does not apply.
Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) 0 - Payment restriction for assistants at surgery applies to this procedure...
Co-Surgeons (62) 0 - Co-surgeons not permitted for this procedure.
Team Surgery (66) 0 - Team surgeons not permitted for this procedure.
Diagnostic Imaging Family 99 - Concept Does Not Apply
APC Status Indicator Clinic or Emergency Department Visit
Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) none
MUE 1
GP Services delivered under an outpatient physical therapy plan of care
KX Requirements specified in the medical policy have been met
CQ Outpatient physical therapy services furnished in whole or in part by a physical therapist assistant
95 Synchronous telemedicine service rendered via a real-time interactive audio and video telecommunications system: synchronous telemedicine service is defined as a real-time interaction between a physician or other qualified health care professional and a patient who is located at a distant site from the physician or other qualified health care professional. the totality of the communication of information exchanged between the physician or other qualified health care professional and the patient during the course of the synchronous telemedicine service must be of an amount and nature that would be sufficient to meet the key components and/or requirements of the same service when rendered via a face-to-face interaction. modifier 95 may only be appended to the services listed in appendix p. appendix p is the list of cpt codes for services that are typically performed face-to-face, but may be rendered via a real-time (synchronous) interactive audio and video telecommunications system.
59 Distinct procedural service: under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was distinct or independent from other non-e/m services performed on the same day. modifier 59 is used to identify procedures/services, other than e/m services, that are not normally reported together, but are appropriate under the circumstances. documentation must support a different session, different procedure or surgery, different site or organ system, separate incision/excision, separate lesion, or separate injury (or area of injury in extensive injuries) not ordinarily encountered or performed on the same day by the same individual. however, when another already established modifier is appropriate it should be used rather than modifier 59. only if no more descriptive modifier is available, and the use of modifier 59 best explains the circumstances, should modifier 59 be used. note: modifier 59 should not be appended to an e/m service. to report a separate and distinct e/m service with a non-e/m service performed on the same date, see modifier 25.
GO Services delivered under an outpatient occupational therapy plan of care
XU Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service
GW Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition
79 Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: the individual may need to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was unrelated to the original procedure. this circumstance may be reported by using modifier 79. (for repeat procedures on the same day, see modifier 76.)
AJ Clinical social worker
CO Outpatient occupational therapy services furnished in whole or in part by an occupational therapy assistant
CR Catastrophe/disaster related
FS Split (or shared) evaluation and management visit
GA Waiver of liability statement issued as required by payer policy, individual case
GN Services delivered under an outpatient speech language pathology plan of care
GT Via interactive audio and video telecommunication systems
GV Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider
GZ Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary
HF Substance abuse program
LT Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body)
RT Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body)
XS Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure
Date
Action
Notes
2025-01-01 Changed Short, Medium, and Long Descriptions changed.
2023-01-01 Changed Code description changed.
2022-01-01 Added Code added
Code
Description
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