2025 CPT code 98978
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Medicine - Non-Face-to-Face Nonphysician Services Feed
Remote therapeutic monitoring (e.g., therapy adherence, therapy response); device(s) supply with scheduled (e.g., daily) recording(s) and/or programmed alert(s) transmission to monitor cognitive behavioral therapy, each 30 days.
Medical necessity for RTM should be supported by the patient's diagnosis and treatment plan. The use of RTM should be justified as improving patient outcomes, enhancing therapy adherence, and providing timely intervention.
After a physician or other qualified healthcare professional orders the service, the reporting provider supplies the device(s). The provider is responsible for ensuring the device is FDA-approved and functions as intended for data collection and transmission.
In simple words: This code covers the cost of providing a device, like a wearable sensor or app, that helps monitor your progress with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) from home. The device records information or sends alerts related to your therapy, which is then reviewed by your healthcare provider. This helps them track your response to CBT over a 30-day period.CBT helps you identify and change unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors.
This code represents the supply of one or more devices for remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM) for cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). It includes scheduled recording and/or programmed alert transmission for a period of 30 days. The equipment must be a medical device as defined by the FDA.This code is reported once per 30 days, with a minimum of 16 days of monitoring. RTM involves reviewing and monitoring data about the patient’s response to therapy, including signs, symptoms, and functions, to gain information about patient status. The device may generate objective data, or a patient may provide subjective input. CBT focuses on changing negative thought and belief patterns that influence behavior and emotions. It often addresses issues such as anxiety, depression, or substance use disorder.
Example 1: A patient with generalized anxiety disorder is prescribed CBT and provided with a wearable sensor that monitors heart rate variability and sleep patterns. The data is transmitted to the provider for review and adjustment of the therapy plan., A patient undergoing CBT for depression uses a smartphone app to log their mood, activities, and medication adherence. The data is transmitted to the provider to track progress and identify triggers for depressive episodes., A patient recovering from substance use disorder uses a breathalyzer connected to an app that transmits data to their provider.This allows for remote monitoring of abstinence and provides real-time support and intervention if needed.
Documentation should include the type of device supplied, the duration of monitoring, the patient's diagnosis, the treatment plan, and the data collected by the device. It should also demonstrate medical necessity for RTM.
- Specialties:Psychiatry, Psychology, Addiction Medicine, Behavioral Health
- Place of Service:Office, Home, Outpatient Hospital, Telehealth Provided in Patient’s Home, Telehealth Provided Other than in Patient’s Home