Visit https://aasm.org/advocacy/position-statements/ for comprehensive information about the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) recent draft proposal for CPAP therapy for OSA.

Included is a formal comment from the AASM to CMS on the Proposed Decision Memo for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) (CAG-00093R2).

The comment challenges inconsistencies and omissions within the draft memo. In particular, the AASM is contesting CMS’s inclusion of Type IV devices as acceptable for unattended portable monitoring, and raising concern over the vagaries regarding an acceptable CPAP trial, requirements for clinical evaluation and a paradigm for follow-up and long-term management.

Members are encouraged to contact their Regional Medicare Office and inform them of the draft proposal, express their concern, and offer their expertise, as a sleep specialist, in assisting them with defining and shaping the local coverage determination for portable monitoring. 

Links at https://aasm.org/advocacy/position-statements/ will direct you to information about national and local determination policies, general CMS information, a letter about portable monitoring you can send to your local medical director, and a list of regional medical directors.