CPT 98984 Description, Billing Rules, & Use Cases
CPT 98984 is used to report Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) device supply for monitoring of the respiratory system when patient-generated RTM data is available on 2 to 15 days within a 30-day period. RTM is commonly used to track therapy adherence and therapy response using connected devices and digital therapeutic tools that collect information outside of traditional in-office visits.
In practical terms, CPT 98984 helps reimburse the device supply and data access/transmission layer of a respiratory RTM program—such as providing a connected respiratory monitoring device, enabling the technology required for data capture, and supporting the flow of therapy-related data from the patient to the care team. This code is intended for short-duration RTM participation when the patient does not meet the 16-day monitoring threshold used for standard RTM device supply billing.
CPT 98984 does not represent provider-led clinical management time. Treatment management (reviewing RTM data, communicating with the patient/caregiver, and making therapy-related adjustments) is reported separately using RTM treatment management codes when the required time and communication criteria are met.
What is CPT Code 98984?
CPT 98984 covers the monthly supply of an RTM device and the associated data access/transmission needed to support respiratory system monitoring in an RTM program. It is billed once per 30-day period when:
A qualified RTM device is supplied to the patient
The RTM device supports respiratory system monitoring (e.g., therapy adherence, therapy response, or digital therapeutic intervention)
RTM data is captured and available on 2–15 days within the billing cycle
CPT 98984 is best understood as the infrastructure code for respiratory RTM. It captures the ongoing technical service layer that enables respiratory therapy monitoring—such as device access, data transmission, and the system connectivity that supports monitoring workflows—when the patient’s monitoring activity is meaningful but does not meet a 16-day minimum threshold.
This code does not include:
- Setup or onboarding services (reported separately if applicable under your RTM workflow)
- RTM treatment management time (reported separately under RTM management time codes when time and communication requirements are met)
CPT 98984 is billed instead of the full-duration respiratory RTM device supply code for that same system and billing period and should not be reported concurrently with the full-duration respiratory device supply code.
CPT 98984 Time Thresholds and Code Combinations
CPT 98984 may be billed once per calendar month to report RTM device supply when respiratory system monitoring data is transmitted on 2–15 days during the billing period.
Important to Note:
CPT 98984 requires:
- A qualified RTM device supporting respiratory system monitoring
- Data transmission on 2–15 days in a 30-day period
- One billing instance per patient, per 30-day period
- Device data accessible for clinical review if needed
When to Use CPT 98984: Common Scenarios and Use Cases
CPT 98984 is used when a respiratory RTM device is supplied and used for a limited monitoring period within a 30-day cycle. Here are examples of how CPT 98984 is used in practice:
Short-Term Inhaler Adherence Monitoring
A pulmonology practice:
- Supplies a connected inhaler sensor
- Tracks adherence data over 8 days
- Reviews transmitted data via an RTM platform
Billing: 98984
Digital Respiratory Therapy Trial
A provider:
- Enrolls a patient in a digital breathing therapy program
- Device transmits therapy response data on 12 days
- Monitoring concludes before the 16-day threshold
Billing: 98984
Post-Exacerbation Respiratory Monitoring
A care team:
- Supplies an RTM device following a COPD flare
- Data is transmitted intermittently over 10 days
- Monitoring is discontinued once symptoms stabilize
Billing: 98984
CPT 98984 Billing Requirements and Eligibility
CPT 98984 reports RTM device supply for respiratory system monitoring when RTM data is captured on 2–15 days in a 30-day period. Because RTM device supply codes are threshold-based, documentation should clearly support both device supply and data availability during the billing cycle.
Patient Eligibility Criteria
Patients appropriate for respiratory RTM typically:
- Have a respiratory condition or therapy plan that warrants monitoring of adherence or response
- Are participating in an RTM program under provider oversight
- Use a qualified RTM device or digital therapeutic tool that supports respiratory monitoring
- Receive monitoring in a home or community setting
Respiratory RTM monitoring may be used for:
- Therapy adherence support
- Therapy response monitoring
- Digital therapeutic interventions
- Short-duration monitoring during clinical transitions (e.g., after symptom flare or therapy change)
Device and Data Requirements
To qualify for 98984:
- The RTM device/tool must support respiratory system monitoring and produce therapy-related data
- Data capture and/or transmission should be automated (not manual patient logging)
- The device/tool must be furnished as part of the provider’s RTM program
- RTM data must be captured on 2–15 days in the 30-day period
- Data should be accessible through the RTM platform for review if required
Who Can Bill CPT 98984
CPT 98984 may be billed by:
- Physicians
- Nurse Practitioners (NPs)
- Physician Assistants (PAs)
- Other Qualified Healthcare Professionals (QHPs)
Staff can support device distribution and monitoring operations, but billing is submitted under the supervising provider consistent with payer requirements.
CPT 98984 Billing Documentation Checklist
- Provider order / RTM monitoring plan
- Clinical rationale for respiratory RTM monitoring
- What is being monitored (therapy adherence, therapy response, digital therapeutic intervention)
- RTM device/tool description
- Identifies the device/tool supplied to the patient
- Describes how data is captured/transmitted (automated vs manual)
- Device supply and assignment record
- Date furnished to the patient
- Confirmation device/tool access was activated and connected to the RTM platform
- Transmission / data availability tracking for the billing cycle
- Evidence of RTM data captured on 2–15 days within the 30-day period
- Optional platform logs or device usage summaries tied to the billing month
- Supervising provider identification
- Claim billed under a physician or QHP
- Staff involvement documented under supervision if applicable
- Attestation that:
- Only one respiratory RTM device supply code is billed per 30-day cycle
- The short-duration code was not billed concurrently with the full-duration respiratory device supply code for the same period
Common CPT 98984 Billing Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
❌ Billing Without Meeting the 2-Day Minimum
CPT 98984 requires RTM data captured on at least 2 days during the 30-day period. If respiratory RTM data was available on fewer than 2 days, the service does not qualify for billing under 98984.
❌ Billing the Short-Duration and Full-Duration Respiratory Device Codes Together
The short-duration respiratory RTM device supply code (98984) should not be billed in the same 30-day period as the full-duration respiratory device supply code. Select the appropriate code based on whether the patient met the 16-day threshold.
❌ Counting Manually Logged Patient Data
RTM device supply billing depends on qualifying RTM data capture/transmission. Manually entered data (or unverified patient self-reporting outside the RTM device/tool) should not be counted toward day thresholds.
❌ Missing Device Supply Documentation
Claims can be denied if documentation does not clearly show the device/tool was furnished to the patient and activated for use within the RTM program.
❌ Duplicate Billing in the Same 30-Day Period
CPT 98984 is billed once per 30-day period for respiratory RTM device supply. Multiple submissions for the same patient and period—especially across systems or practices—can trigger denials.
❌ Forgetting Therapy-Related Billing Nuances
Some payers apply therapy-related billing rules to RTM services depending on who performs the service and how the program is structured. If applicable, ensure documentation supports the rendering staff role and any required modifiers.
