How Much Does Remote Therapeutic Monitoring Cost? A Transparent Pricing Guide
Remote Therapeutic Monitoring is designed to improve patient adherence and extend care beyond in-person visits. Many healthcare practices are interested in RTM, but one question comes up immediately: What does it actually cost to run?
Understanding the real numbers requires looking at reimbursement rates, vendor pricing models, and internal staffing time. Here is a clear breakdown.
What Drives Remote Therapeutic Monitoring Cost
Remote Therapeutic Monitoring is a Medicare program introduced in 2022. It reimburses providers for monitoring non-physiological data such as therapy adherence, pain levels, and functional progress.
RTM includes specific Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes for setup, device supply, and monthly treatment management.
Each CPT code has its own reimbursement rate and documentation requirement. National averages are updated annually in the Physician Fee Schedule, and local rates may vary slightly by region.
For healthcare practices, revenue depends on meeting time thresholds and data collection standards.
Setup and Device Codes
RTM includes an initial setup code and monthly device supply codes. For example, CPT 98975 reimburses about $19.73 nationally for device setup and patient education. Code 98977 reimburses about $43.02 per 30-day period when at least 16 days of data are recorded.
For a practice, that means roughly $60 per patient in the first month before any management time is billed. If you manage 50 patients, that is about $3,000 in potential monthly revenue tied directly to monitoring activity. Those numbers quickly influence how you evaluate vendor pricing.
Treatment Management Time
Time-based codes are where ongoing revenue builds. CPT 98980 reimburses about $50.14 for the first 20 minutes of monthly treatment management, while 98981 reimburses about $39.14 for each additional 20 minutes.
20 minutes of documented care can translate into roughly $50 in reimbursement. 40 minutes can approach $90. For a clinic with 30 active RTM patients, consistent engagement becomes financially meaningful.
What Most Practices Actually Spend on RTM
Vendor pricing is where the cost of Remote Therapeutic Monitoring becomes less predictable. Some companies bundle software, monitoring, and billing support into a percentage-based model. Others charge a flat monthly fee per patient.
Industry sources often cite a typical revenue of $100 to $150 per patient monthly when programs are optimized. Practices may see up to $180 per patient per month, depending on services and region. For a practice owner, that potential revenue makes the pricing structure a critical decision.
Common cost models include:
- Flat per-patient monthly software fees
- Percentage of collected reimbursement
- Upfront implementation fees plus support contracts
Implementation can range from a few thousand dollars to well over $50,000, depending on integration needs and scale. Health systems typically face higher onboarding costs, while smaller outpatient clinics often prefer software-only solutions.
A Transparent Example
Many RTM vendors hide their pricing behind demo forms. But not all do. For example, MovementRx publishes its tiers clearly so practices can evaluate margins without scheduling a call.
You can directly view pricing options for MovementRx across four structured plans.
The Free plan includes a basic home exercise app without RTM billing. And the HEP Pro plan costs $500 per year and provides a full home exercise platform without RTM billing integration.
The Software-Only RTM model costs $15 per patient per month. So, if reimbursement averages $100 per patient monthly, the margin remains strong after software costs.
The Full-Service RTM model charges roughly 55 percent of reimbursement. MovementRx provides licensed virtual PTA or OTA monitoring, removing staff time requirements. So, basically, practices trade some revenue for operational simplicity.
How to Calculate Your True RTM Margin
Remote Therapeutic Monitoring cost is not limited to vendor fees. Staff time, documentation processes, and billing efficiency all affect profitability. A simple calculation helps clarify the picture.
Start with projected reimbursement per patient per month. Subtract vendor fees. And subtract internal labor costs if your team handles monitoring.
If reimbursement averages $120 per patient and software costs $15, you retain $105 before labor. If staff spend 20 minutes monthly at an effective cost of $25 per hour, labor adds about $8. That leaves roughly $97 in gross margin per patient.
Scale changes everything. Fifty patients at $97 each equals $4,850 monthly before overhead. Consistent processes and patient engagement determine whether those projections hold.
What Patients Should Know About Cost
RTM is typically billed under Medicare Part B and may involve coinsurance. CPT codes can only be billed once per 30-day period per episode of care, and at least 16 days of data are required for many device codes. Clear communication prevents confusion about charges.
Patients benefit from structured monitoring and digital accountability between visits. Providers benefit from documented engagement and reimbursed oversight. Transparency supports long-term participation.
Turning Remote Therapeutic Monitoring Cost Into a Smart Investment
Remote Therapeutic Monitoring cost depends on your staffing model, patient volume, and vendor choice. Some practices prioritize maximum retained revenue with software-only tools. Others choose full-service support to reduce administrative burden.
MovementRx offers flexible tiers that allow practices to start free and scale toward full RTM billing when ready. If you are exploring RTM for your clinic or health system, review the detailed pricing structure and reach out to see how the model fits your goals and capacity.
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