What is remote patient monitoring (RPM)
Remote patient monitoring (RPM) is a type of telehealth that allows providers to monitor patients’ health outside of a traditional clinical setting using digital medical devices. RPM uses technology to electronically transmit information between patients and clinicians.
This is typically accomplished through connected medical devices (often using secure cellular, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth connections) that capture physiologic measures and transmit patient data for clinical review. Some examples include blood pressure cuffs, glucometers, pulse oximeters, and scales.
Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes for RPM services
These services are currently split into two categories in the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) to help understand their uses.
Historically, many RPM programs have centered on two device/set-up codes (99453 and 99454) and two timed RPM treatment management codes (99457 and 99458). Looking ahead to 2026, the CPT code set adds options intended to better reflect shorter monitoring durations and shorter monthly management time.
CPT 99453 covers initial set-up and patient education on use of the RPM equipment (generally billed once per episode of care/device set-up). CPT 99454 describes device supply with daily recordings or programmed alert transmissions in a 30-day period (commonly understood as the “16–30 days” device-supply pathway in current use).
Beginning in 2026, a new device-supply option (CPT 99445) is intended to describe shorter monitoring durations (2–15 days in a 30-day period), allowing reporting when patients have clinically appropriate, shorter monitoring needs.
CPT 99457 is used for RPM treatment management services when at least 20 minutes of clinical staff/physician/other qualified health care professional time is spent in a calendar month, and it requires at least one real-time, interactive communication with the patient/caregiver during the month. CPT 99458 is used for each additional 20 minutes of time beyond 99457 in the same calendar month.
Starting in 2026, a new “shorter-duration” treatment management option (CPT 99470) is intended to capture the first 10 minutes of RPM treatment management time in a calendar month (also requiring at least one real-time, interactive communication), providing a pathway for months that do not reach the 20-minute threshold for 99457.
Assessing the RPM landscape for CPT code additions
In recent CPT Editorial Panel cycles, stakeholders have pushed for RPM coding that better matches real-world use cases – such as shorter, intensive monitoring after an acute event or during medication titration – rather than a single “all-or-nothing” monthly threshold. This topic (including potential new codes and revisions to existing RPM descriptors) has been discussed across multiple American Medical Association (AMA) CPT Editorial Panel meetings, with actions that culminated in additions and revisions scheduled to take effect in 2026.
One major change in direction for 2026 is the creation of an RPM device-supply pathway for shorter monitoring durations. In addition to CPT 99454 (commonly used for 16–30 days of data transmission within a 30-day period), the 2026 code set adds CPT 99445 for 2–15 days of transmitted data in a 30-day period. This helps reduce the gap in months where clinically appropriate monitoring occurs but does not reach the longer-duration threshold.
In practice, this means an RPM program may have a clearer coding option when patients transmit as few as 2 days of data (up to 15 days) in a 30-day period – without having to extend monitoring solely to meet a higher day-count threshold.
A shift toward shorter-duration options in 2026
A second major change in direction for 2026 is the addition of a shorter-duration RPM treatment management code. Instead of changing CPT 99457 to start at a lower minute threshold, the 2026 code set adds CPT 99470 to describe the first 10 minutes of RPM treatment management time in a calendar month (with at least one real-time, interactive communication). CPT 99457 continues to apply when 20 or more minutes are met in the month.
This added flexibility is intended to better align coding with the amount of clinical work performed in a given month – particularly for lower-acuity check-ins or short-term interventions where meaningful management occurs but does not reach 20 minutes.
For additional time beyond the base treatment management threshold, CPT 99458 continues to describe each additional 20 minutes of RPM treatment management time in the same calendar month (beyond what is reported with the initial code for that month, such as 99457). As with all RPM coding, accurate time tracking and documentation of required interactive communication remain essential.
Future RPM updates
With these updates now finalized for 2026, the RPM coding landscape is beginning to better reflect how care is delivered in practice.
By adding options for shorter monitoring durations and lower time thresholds, the updated code set supports more flexible care models, including short-term monitoring after acute events and lower-intensity monthly management. This gives providers clearer pathways to report clinically meaningful work that may not have met previous requirements.
At the same time, these changes reinforce the importance of accurate documentation, including time tracking and required patient interactions. As RPM programs continue to grow, CMS and the AMA are expected to monitor how these codes are used, with a continued focus on balancing access, adoption, and appropriate utilization.
IMO Health will continue to track updates to RPM guidance and coding requirements to help ensure providers have the content and structure needed to support compliant, scalable remote care programs within the electronic health record (EHR).
Want to brush up on your CPT code knowledge? Check out our comprehensive guide here.
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