CPT code 98977: Remote monitoring, musculoskeletal, 16–30 days2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $51.44 for 98977 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $44.07–$73.87.

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

What 98977 covers

This code covers supplying a remote therapeutic monitoring device that captures and transmits scheduled data about a patient’s musculoskeletal status. A physical therapist, physician, or other treating professional may use the data to follow a home rehabilitation program, such as therapy for persistent low-back pain or shoulder mobility limitations. The device may record therapy adherence or response, such as movement or exercise-related information, for review by the care team.

Report one unit for a 30-day period when qualifying data are recorded or transmitted on at least 16 days during that period. Documentation should identify the musculoskeletal condition, the device and data monitored, the monitoring period, and the days with qualifying data. CMS assigns no work RVU; its fee schedule valuation reflects practice expense and malpractice inputs. Setup and patient education, when performed, are represented by 98975; treatment-management services are represented by 98980 and 98981 and require their own supporting documentation.

This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.

Where 98977 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

98977 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

How the 98977 rate is calculated

Each of 98977’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.

Payment rules and modifiers for 98977

98977 has no global surgery period, no multiple-procedure, bilateral or assistant-at-surgery adjustment, and no professional/technical split. What changes the payment is where the service happens: the place of service on the claim decides whether Medicare pays the office or the facility rate.

98977 compared with similar codes

How to choose

98985RTM device supplyMusculoskeletal, 2–15 days

Both cover musculoskeletal RTM device supply. Choose 98977 for 16–30 days of qualifying data and 98985 for 2–15 days.

98976RTM device supplyRespiratory system, 16–30 days

Both cover RTM device supply for 16–30 days, but 98976 monitors the respiratory system rather than the musculoskeletal system.

98978CBT monitoring supply16–30 days

98978 covers device supply for cognitive behavioral therapy monitoring; 98977 is specific to musculoskeletal monitoring.

98980RTM managementFirst 20 minutes monthly

98977 represents the device-supply service. 98980 represents the first treatment-management time increment and requires its own qualifying time and communication.

Codes related to 98977

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Where these rates come from

FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.

CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates