CDC data show continued rise in obesity among US adults
A new study found that increases in obesity and severe obesity prevalence have persisted among U.S. adults over the most recent decade, but adjusted linear trends among youth remained nonsignificant. Results show that obesity among adults increased from 33.7% [...]
Dr. Robert Redfield, longtime AIDS researcher, is new CDC director
On March 26, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar swore in Dr. Robert Redfield, an accomplished AIDS researcher, as the 18th director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a position that did [...]
NIOSH webinar on managing fatigue in safety-critical workforces is March 28
As part of its Working Hours, Sleep, and Fatigue series, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is hosting the webinar, “Managing fatigue in safety-critical workforces: Primary risk factors and practical approaches,” on Wednesday, March 28, 2018 [...]
Palmetto GBA now requiring sleep-specific accreditation in Jurisdictions J and M
Medicare contractor Palmetto GBA recently released revisions to its local coverage determination (LCD) policy for polysomnography and other sleep studies for Medicare Jurisdictions J and M (L36593), affecting sleep facilities in 7 states: Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, South [...]
MedPAC issues report calling for the elimination of MIPS
On Mar. 15 the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), an independent congressional agency charged with advising Congress on issues affecting Medicare, released to Congress its Medicare Payment Policy report, which calls for the replacement of the Merit-based Incentive Payment [...]
AMA survey highlights need for prior authorization reform
On March 19 the American Medical Association (AMA) released the results of a physician survey showing widespread negative experiences with the implementation of prior authorization in the U.S. health care system. In a group of 1,000 physician respondents, 9 in [...]
AASM Member Appreciation Week is here – March 19-24
In honor of member appreciation week, we have arranged some special discounts and resources as a way of thanking our members for your support and dedication to the field. Take advantage of these special offers before the week runs [...]
The spring issue of Montage is now available
The newest issue of Montage, the AASM’s quarterly membership newsletter, is ready to read! Take a look at the fresh, updated look online and download a digital copy. This issue features an article about a doctor and his staff [...]
Submit your 2017 reporting data to MIPSwizard by March 26, 2018
The deadline to submit data for the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) via MIPSwizard is March 26, 2018. MIPSwizard helps guide clinicians through a few easy steps to rapidly collect, validate and submit performance results to the Centers for [...]
Updated AASM Scoring Manual, Version 2.5, to be released April 2
The AASM Manual for the Scoring of Sleep and Associated Events, Version 2.5, will be released April 2, 2018. Based on the recommendations made by the AASM Scoring Manual Editorial Board, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine Board of [...]
Nightmares are common but underreported in U.S. military personnel
DARIEN, IL – A new study shows that a high percentage of military personnel with sleep disturbances met criteria for nightmare disorder, but few of them reported nightmares as a reason for sleep evaluation. Those with nightmare disorder had [...]
Cost of sleepiness too pricey to ignore
DARIEN, IL – Getting insufficient sleep and working while fatigued have become commonplace in the modern 24/7 workforce, with more than 37 percent of workers sleep-deprived. Over-worked and over-tired employees experience cognitive declines and present employers with heightened safety [...]
NIH announces funding opportunity for projects focusing on sleep and stress
A resource-related research projects (R24) funding opportunity announcement (PAR-18-694) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) encourages applications that develop, strengthen, and evaluate transdisciplinary approaches, methods, and investigative teams in basic behavioral, social, and/or biobehavioral research to generate fundamental [...]
Private insurance claims for sleep apnea rose steeply from 2014 to 2017
Private insurance claims with a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea grew 850 percent in the U.S. from 2014 to 2017, according to a press release from FAIR Health, a national, independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing transparency to health [...]
CMS fact sheet offers guidance to avoid improper PAP therapy payments
To help providers of positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy avoid improper payments and denials due to insufficient documentation, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare Learning Network (MLN) recently posted a fact sheet, "Provider compliance tips for [...]
AASM leaders to participate in FDA workshop on devices for sleep-disordered breathing in adults
AASM President Dr. Ilene Rosen and President-Elect Dr. Douglas Kirsch are among the sleep medicine leaders scheduled to participate in the FDA workshop, “Study Design Considerations for Devices including Digital Health Technologies for Sleep Disordered Breathing in Adults,” which [...]
AASM thanks members for record-setting response to call for volunteers
The AASM thanks all of our members who responded to the 2018 call for volunteers by expressing interest in serving on a committee. We received a record-setting response this year and are currently reviewing the submitted volunteer interest forms [...]
Cast your vote in the 2018 AASM leadership election
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine invites members to participate in the 2018 AASM leadership election by voting for candidates for the AASM Board of Directors and the AASM Nominating Committee. Online balloting is open through Friday, March 23, [...]
Online event will engage general public in sleep deprivation learning experience
The University of Michigan is hosting the return of its popular “Teach-Out,” Sleep Deprivation: Habits, Solutions, and Strategies, beginning Monday, March 12. Participants can join the more than 16,000 who have contributed to the conversation, and the return of [...]
“Sleep Works for You” Twitter chat is Monday, March 12
On Monday, March 12, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. EDT, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) will be participating in the “Sleep Works for You” Twitter chat, which will emphasize the importance of healthy sleep for work [...]
Apply to participate in MIPS study and receive full credit for 2018
MIPS-eligible clinicians participating in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) as an individual or as part of a group can apply to participate in a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) study to evaluate the burdens associated with [...]
Report of the President from the January 2018 board meeting
Before presenting my update from the Jan. 19-20 meeting of the AASM board of directors, I’d like to thank all of you who have renewed your 2018 AASM membership. There is a lot happening at the AASM, and your [...]
Radio media tour highlights link between sleep apnea and heart disease
For American Heart Month, AASM President Dr. Ilene Rosen recently conducted a radio media tour in support of the National Healthy Sleep Awareness Project’s “Sleep Apnea Hurts HEARTS” public awareness campaign. Dr. Rosen did interviews with 10 radio stations [...]
AASM posts sleep apnea testing policy scorecards for three payers
The AASM has posted scorecards for the diagnostic sleep apnea testing policies of AIM Specialty Health, UnitedHealthcare and eviCore. The scorecards are the first to be developed by the AASM Payer Policy Review Committee, which is responsible for encouraging [...]
In Memoriam: Sleep researcher Serge Daan
Sleep researcher Serge Daan passed away on Feb. 9, 2018, according to an announcement from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. Daan is remembered for his seminal work in chronobiology, sleep research, psychiatry, physiology, ecology and behavioral biology. [...]