On Feb. 13, 2024, the AASM, along with the American Thoracic Society (ATS) and the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST), submitted a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) advocating for home sleep apnea test (HSAT) coverage for Medicaid patients. The tri-society letter highlights that while Medicare approved coverage for HSAT as an alternative to polysomnography over a decade ago, Medicaid coverage for HSAT varies widely by state and policy, leading to disparities in care.
The letter also emphasizes the importance of establishing national policies for HSAT coverage in Medicaid, which would improve health equity and lead to net cost savings. Adopting HSAT as an alternative diagnostic test for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in Medicaid beneficiaries would help address disparities in access to care, particularly among racial and ethnic minorities and rural populations.
Members may send questions about this communication to coding@aasm.org.
