The Medicine Section of the 2026 CPT code set undergoes substantial changes — with 37 new codes, 17 deletions, and 17 revisions — reflecting the evolution of preventive care, digital health, remote patient monitoring, therapeutic monitoring, audiology, and other emerging clinical services.Hiacode
These updates are part of a broader 418-code revision cycle aimed at aligning CPT reporting with modern clinical practice and technology integration.American Medical Association
🆕 New CPT Codes in Medicine (2026)
1. Remote Physiologic Monitoring (RPM) – Shorter Duration
A major theme within the Medicine Section is expansion of remote patient/physiologic monitoring codes to support shorter monitoring intervals than previously reportable. The AMA added new codes that recognize services that occur over 2–15 days within a 30-day period:
CPT 99445 – RPM device supply with daily recordings/alert transmission, 2–15 days in a 30-day period.
CPT 99470 – RPM treatment management services; first 10 minutes per month (with required interaction).APMA MAIN+1
These codes complement existing RPM codes (such as 99454 and 99457) that remain focused on longer-duration monitoring, helping coders capture a broader range of telehealth physiologic monitoring services.APMA MAIN
2. Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) Enhancements
The 2026 update also expands the remote therapeutic monitoring code family to better represent device supply and treatment management for various therapy adherence and response scenarios (e.g., respiratory, musculoskeletal, cognitive-behavioral monitoring). These changes include new codes that represent shorter cumulative monitoring periods and clinician interactions, enabling more precise clinical billing across RTM modalities.ASHA
3. Hearing Device & Audiology Services
One of the most impactful medicine-related updates is the replacement of legacy audiology service codes (92590–92595) with a comprehensive new structure of 12 CPT codes that describe contemporary hearing device-related services.audiologist.org
These new codes cover key elements such as:
Hearing-aid candidacy evaluations (e.g., 92628).
Device selection and fitting (e.g., 92631, 92632, 92634, 92635).
Post-fitting follow-ups and behavioral verification (e.g., 92636–92638).
Electroacoustic verification and assistive device services (e.g., 92641, 92642).e4health
This structural overhaul allows for granular reporting of audiology professional services that match real-world clinical care for hearing devices.ASHA
❌ Deleted Medicine CPT Codes (2026)
Several older medicine codes have been deleted in 2026, primarily because they are replaced by more modern and clinically relevant codes:
Audiology codes 92590–92595 are removed entirely and replaced with the new hearing-device services codes.audiologist.org
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Some older RPM/RTM descriptors tied to legacy reporting conventions are removed or restructured as part of short-duration RPM/RTM enhancements.* (See AMA 2026 breakdown.)American Medical Association
Deleted codes will no longer be valid for dates of service on or after January 1, 2026, and claims submitted with these codes will be denied.NC Medicaid
🔁 Revised Medicine CPT Codes (2026)
1. RPM/RTM Code Clarifications
Existing codes such as 99453, 99454, 99457, and +99458 receive descriptor revisions to clarify their reporting thresholds:
99453 and 99454 now include explicit minimum day requirements (e.g., 2 days vs 16–30 days).
99457 now clarifies its 20-minute clinician interaction threshold.Medical Coding
These edits improve clinical specificity and help coders determine which code applies based on documented monitoring duration and clinical contact.Medical Coding
2. RTM Descriptor Adjustments
Codes such as 98976, 98977, and 98978 (related to RTM device transmissions) are revised to emphasize minimum device usage durations within defined periods.ASHA
📋 Practical Implications for Coders
Documentation & Coding Guidelines
RPM/RTM: Coders need documentation of day counts, transmission periods, and interactive communication durations to support correct RPM/RTM code selection.APMA MAIN+1
Audiology: Clinical notes must clearly describe service type, duration, and device-related activities to justify use of new audiology codes.e4health
Charge Master & Encoder Updates
Encoder logic, charge masters, and billing systems must be updated with all new codes and deletions before Q1 2026 to avoid denied claims.NC Medicaid
Payer Policy Awareness
Because some new codes (e.g., hearing device services) may lack established RVUs or payer guidance initially, coders should check local payer policies before submission.ASHA
Conclusion
The 2026 Medicine Section CPT updates emphasize expanded digital health services, enhanced remote monitoring, and modernized audiology reporting. These changes improve clinical granularity and reimbursement accuracy for evolving care models — but require coders to stay vigilant about documentation requirements, code deletions, and payer applicability in early 2026 and beyond.American Medical Association
