When this pathway applies
At least 20 qualifying minutes are required for 99457, along with the other RPM service requirements. Additional qualifying time may support 99458 under its reporting instructions. A shorter month must not be rounded up; assess the 2026 99470 pathway independently when appropriate.
What belongs in the time record
Record the date, eligible staff member, clinical activity, duration, and resulting action. Identify the required real-time patient or caregiver conversation separately from other qualifying treatment-management work. Reviewing and managing physiologic data can contribute when it is part of the covered service; passive data transmission alone is not staff work.
Do not count software runtime as clinical staff time or use the same time for another billed service. The device collection period and management time have separate requirements. Consent, an established relationship, medical necessity, eligible personnel, and applicable supervision also need review.
See the 99457 activity-log example and complete workflow checksHow Positive Check relates
Positive Check supports outreach and staff handoffs. Automated interactions and generated transcripts do not independently establish qualifying clinical work or claim eligibility. The practice retains clinical and billing responsibility; review actual human involvement and documentation before selecting a code.
Sources and scope
Editorial source check: September 20, 2026; not independent clinical or coding sign-off. This educational definition is not a claim approval. Confirm current CPT, CMS, MAC, payer and setting-specific rules. Payment varies by service year, locality, setting and payer; no flat reimbursement amount is promised here.