On March 14, 2007, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced it is reviewing its national coverage determination (NCD) regarding the diagnosis of patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) requiring continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy at the request of the American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS).
The current NCD specifies that only polysomnography performed in a facility-based sleep center or laboratory can be used to identify patients with OSA requiring CPAP.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) is aware of this announcement and is currently developing a formal comment. In developing the AASM response, we will carefully review and consider evidence that has been published since the enactment of the current NCD as well as the rationale for review presented by the AAO-HNS. The AASM comment will be submitted to CMS.
The AASM will keep members apprised through the Web site and Weekly Update of the CMS review.
