Remote Patient Monitoring

Question:

We are going to begin using remote therapeutic monitoring in our pain practice to monitor our patients pain functional status and compliance with exercise therapy. For the initial set up and education can our MA perform this service?

Answer:

Yes, the clinical staff may perform the initial set up, and education on setting up the device as long as a physician or other qualified healthcare professional prescribes it. Unlike remote physiologic monitoring, the remote therapeutic monitoring codes (RTM) must be provided under direct supervision which means the physician or other qualified QHP must be in the office suite. However until the year in which the public health emergency (PHE) ends audio visual communication is accepted as direct supervision. Once the PHE ends, this will no longer be the case. The correct CPT code to use for the initial setup and patient education is 98975.