Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC has given sleep facilities in its region (Jurisdictions JE and JF) a 90-day extension to become compliant with the requirements listed in its local coverage determination (LCD) policy, Polysomnography and Other Sleep Studies (L34040). Unaccredited sleep labs in this region now have until Sept. 20, 2017, to submit a completed accreditation application, allowing plenty of time to take advantage of the AASM expedited accreditation program.
LCD 34040 was revised earlier this year to include a requirement for sleep facilities that perform polysomnography or other sleep studies to be accredited by either the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) or another listed accreditor. This policy change went into effect June 5, 2017. Without the proper accreditation, sleep facilities were subject to having their claims denied. The LCD impacts providers located in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and US Territories (American Samoa, Guam and Northern Mariana Islands).
On June 23, 2017, Noridian released a Medicare Coverage Article, Sleep Lab Credentialing: Polysomnography and Other Sleep Studies (A55548), which clarified the accreditation requirement for sleep facilities and allowed unaccredited sleep facilities to have 90 days to apply for accreditation. The 90-day window started the day of the June 23 publication of the article, thereby allowing sleep facilities to submit completed accreditation applications up to Sept. 20, 2017. In addition, these sleep facilities must have final accreditation approved within 12 months of the June 23 publication date of the Medicare Coverage Article.
The AASM accreditation department is processing expedited applications for sleep facilities affected by this LCD revision. Visit the expedited sleep facility accreditation page for more information on the process and how you can apply.
