News

ptMantra expanding internationally!

ptMantra is excited to partner with InkWell Health to support patients recovering from knee replacement surgery in the United Kingdom.

InkWell Health provides revolutionary technology that empowers patients to measure swelling, temperature, and range of motion simply by photographing a temporary tattoo placed on their knee. ptMantra engages patients to perform assigned therapeutic exercise and allows providers to track patient adherence as well as their experience while performing these exercises.

With this monitoring system in place, providers get more recovery data on a more frequent basis to evaluate progress and inform clinical decisions. We are honored that InkWell selected us to partner with them for this opportunity.

New Rules for RTM in 2026

We are excited to announce some very favorable rule changes for RTM that will take effect on January 1, 2026. In its final rule to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for 2026, CMS introduces two new RTM codes with lower eligibility thresholds and makes one important clarification regarding the interactive communication requirement.

New data code: 98985

With the existing data code (98977), patients must transmit data on no less than 16 days in a 30-day period to qualify for reimbursement. Starting in 2026, you will be able to bill even when a patient transmits for a couple of days, literally. A new code (98985) will be available to claim reimbursement when patients transmit just twice in a 30-day period. This means the setup code (98975) will also require just two days of data in a 30-day period, rather than the 16 currently required.

And the best part? CMS will reimburse this new code (98985) at the same rate as the existing data code (98977).

New time code: 98979

The RTM time codes require that the full amount of time is rendered to qualify for reimbursement, unlike the 15-minute therapy codes that can be claimed after just 8 minutes. The existing time codes—98980 for initial 20 minutes; 98981 for each additional 20 minutes—therefore left providers uncompensated when they rendered as much as 19 minutes of services without hitting the required 20th minute.The new code (98979) allows providers to claim reimbursement for achieving just 10 minutes of monitoring.

This means there will be fewer instances where providers are unable to claim reimbursement for the care they render.

Clarification regarding the interactive communication requirement

Until now, many believed that the “interactive communication” needed to qualify for time codes had to be over the phone or via telehealth. CMS has now clarified that’s not the case: A simple in-person conversation about RTM—so long as it’s documented in the EMR—meets the requirement.

No extra phone calls. No extra steps. Just good documentation of the care you’re already delivering.

These RTM rule changes underscore CMS’s continued support for RTM’s evolution as a clinical modality, helping to enshrine it as a permanent part of modern care. With these on the horizon, 2026 is shaping up to be the strongest year for RTM yet!

Ready to get started?