Last updated: February 4, 2026
The 2026 updates give cardiology teams more flexibility in how they bill for RPM. New CPT code 99445 covers remote monitoring device supply with daily recordings for 2–15 days in a 30-day period, while CPT 99470 addresses the first 10 minutes of clinical monitoring time. Existing foundational codes 99453, 99454, and 99457 remain unchanged. Common denial reasons still include weak data transmission logs and missing documentation of interactive communications.
CPT Code | Description/Requirements | 2026 RVU (Non-Facility) | Cardiology Notes |
99453 | Initial setup/education | 0.62 (~$21) | Once/36 months, RPM onboarding |
99454 | Device supply, 16+ days data | 0.52 (~$17) | Monthly, HF/HTN RPM |
99445 | Device supply, 2–15 days | 1.40 (~$47) | New 2026, short-term CIED/RPM |
99457 | 20+ min treatment mgmt | 0.75 (~$25) | Monthly, requires interactivity |
99470 | 10–19 min treatment mgmt | 0.78 (~$26) | New 2026, shorter clinical time |
93298 | Pacemaker/ICD eval | 0.75 (~$25) | Quarterly, CIED remote |
Pro tip: CMS 2026 PFS Final Rule requires detailed transmission logs for audit compliance, so automated tracking now plays a central role in protecting RPM revenue.
Cardiology practices succeed with RPM billing when they follow a consistent, five-step workflow from consent to claim.
1. Patient consent and onboarding (99453). Document initial setup and education within the 36-month eligibility window.
2. Data ingestion and OEM unification. Pull transmissions from all device manufacturers into a single platform view.
3. Billable event tracking. Monitor 16+ days for 99454 or 2–15 days for 99445 within each 30-day period.
4. Interactive communication logging (99457/99470). Capture two-way synchronous patient interactions with accurate time tracking.
5. Automated superbill generation. Produce claims-ready documentation with correct code selection and clear medical necessity support.
Critical pitfall: CPT 99445 cannot be billed with 99454 in the same period, and 99470 is mutually exclusive with 99457 in the same month. Accurate code selection based on real patient engagement prevents denials and supports compliance.
Remote monitoring uses distinct CPT codes that depend on service type and duration. Core RPM services use 99453 for initial setup, 99454 for extended monitoring with 16+ days of data, and the new 99445 for shorter 2–15 day periods. CIED monitoring uses 93298 for pacemaker and ICD evaluations and 93299 for loop recorder interrogations. The AMA CPT 2026 code set effective January 1, 2026 includes five new codes for remote monitoring over 2–15 days within 30-day periods, which gives cardiac practices more billing flexibility across different risk profiles.
CPT 99457 requires at least 20 minutes per month of interactive communication between clinical staff and patients. Interactive communication must be live, two-way synchronous communication, so automated alerts or one-way messages do not qualify. Additional 20-minute increments use 99458. The new 99470 code covers 10–19 minutes of similar interactive time and captures shorter clinical engagements that previously went unpaid.
Documentation must include precise time logs, a brief summary of communication content, and the related clinical decision-making. These details help withstand audit review. AI-powered platforms track interaction duration automatically and generate compliant documentation that reduces denials.
Rhythm360 serves as a vendor-neutral platform that automates cardiac RPM billing and produces measurable financial gains. The platform connects to all major OEMs, supports AI-powered documentation, and syncs with leading EHRs to streamline daily work.
The system automates compliance tracking for CPT codes such as 99453, 99454, 99457, and 93298 while unifying data from Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Abbott, Biotronik, and other manufacturers. This unified view reduces manual reconciliation and missed billable events.
Key differentiators include greater than 99.9% data transmissibility through redundant feeds, an 80% reduction in response times for critical alerts through intelligent triage, and bi-directional Epic and Cerner integration. Practices report strong ROI from improved CPT code capture, higher staff efficiency, and easier expansion of RPM service lines for HF and HTN management.
Five steps help optimize 93298 billing with Rhythm360. First, ingest data from all OEMs into a single dashboard. Second, schedule quarterly transmissions automatically. Third, generate AI-based clinical summaries with clear medical necessity documentation. Fourth, prioritize real-time alerts for actionable events. Fifth, create one-click superbills with accurate CPT code selection.
Consider this ROI example. One hundred CIED patients at $120 monthly RPM revenue produce $144,000 in annual uplift. Five hundred HF patients at $85 monthly add $510,000 in additional revenue. Schedule a demo to see how Rhythm360's CPT code billing revenue optimization platform can raise your practice profitability.
Top RPM billing platforms stand out through vendor neutrality, AI automation, deep EHR integration, and clear administrative time savings.
Feature | Rhythm360 | PaceMate | Implicity |
Vendor-Neutral OEM | Yes (All majors, >99.9%) | Partial | Yes |
AI Auto-Capture/Reliability | Yes (up to 300% revenue increase) | Yes (20–30%) | Yes (250%) |
EHR Bi-Dir Sync | Epic/Cerner | Yes | Epic/Cerner |
Admin Time Reduction | 80% (critical alerts) | 75% | 80% |
Cardiology groups can modernize their revenue cycle by moving through four clear implementation phases. First, complete a platform demonstration and needs assessment. Second, configure OEM and EHR integrations, which typically take 2–4 weeks.
Third, go live with focused staff training and workflow refinement. Fourth, scale RPM services across HF, HTN, and CIED populations once the team feels confident. The 2026 Medicare conversion factor increased 3.25% to $33.40, so every missed claim now carries more financial impact.
Manual processes and fragmented workflows quietly drain RPM revenue. Schedule a Rhythm360 demo today and capture your practice's full RPM potential.
Remote monitoring services use several CPT codes that vary by monitoring type and duration. For RPM services, the primary codes are 99453 for initial setup and patient education, 99454 for device supply with 16+ days of data, 99445 as a 2026 code for 2–15 days of data, 99457 for the first 20 minutes of clinical staff time, 99458 for each additional 20-minute increment, and 99470 as a 2026 code for 10–19 minutes of clinical time. For CIED monitoring, practices use 93298 for pacemaker and ICD evaluations and 93299 for implantable loop recorder interrogations. These codes together support comprehensive billing for physiologic monitoring and cardiac device management.
A remote patient monitoring platform is software that automates collection, review, and billing of patient health data from connected medical devices. The platform integrates with multiple device manufacturers, consolidates data into unified dashboards, and produces documentation that supports CPT code billing. Advanced platforms such as Rhythm360 add vendor-neutral connectivity, AI-driven alert triage, EHR integration, and automated revenue cycle workflows.
The platform functions as the central hub for RPM operations. It helps teams stay compliant with regulations and capture reimbursement consistently across large and diverse patient populations.
Remote therapeutic monitoring billing depends on accurate time tracking and adherence to interactive communication rules. For CPT 99457, practices must document at least 20 minutes of live, two-way communication between clinical staff and patients during each calendar month. The new 99470 code covers 10–19 minutes of similar interactive time.
All qualifying communications must be synchronous and clinically meaningful, so automated alerts and one-way messages do not count. Proper documentation includes precise time logs, short summaries of communication content, and the clinical decision-making that followed. Additional time beyond the initial threshold uses 99458 for each extra 20-minute increment.
RPM billing covers the process of securing reimbursement for remote monitoring services delivered to patients with chronic conditions or cardiac devices. This process includes billing for device setup and education, ongoing data transmission monitoring, and clinical staff time spent reviewing data and speaking with patients.
RPM billing has grown more valuable as Medicare reimbursement now reaches about $120–150 per patient each month. The 2026 updates expand billing options with new codes for shorter monitoring periods and lower clinical time thresholds, which makes RPM more accessible and profitable for practices of many sizes.
The 2026 RPM billing environment improves revenue opportunities through new CPT codes and higher reimbursement. CPT 99445 supports billing for 2–15 days of monitoring within a 30-day period, and 99470 covers 10–19 minutes of clinical staff time. These additions remove earlier barriers that blocked billing for short monitoring windows or brief clinical interactions.
The Medicare conversion factor increased 3.25% for 2026, which raises overall reimbursement rates. These changes help practices capture revenue from services that previously went unpaid, and some organizations now report more than $100,000 in additional annual revenue from the same patient panels.
