The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recently sent a letter to UnitedHealthcare, raising concerns about the use of Synapse Health for durable medical equipment (DME) fulfillment for CPAP therapy. The letter outlined member‑reported issues affecting patient access to care and clinical workflows.

AASM shared that members have experienced operational barriers associated with Synapse Health, including delays in initiating medically necessary CPAP therapy and increased administrative burden for patients, clinicians, and DME suppliers. These challenges may disrupt continuity of care and hinder timely treatment for patients with sleep‑related breathing disorders.

In addition to this payer‑specific outreach, AASM has developed two template letters to support members with broader coverage advocacy:

  1. Request for coverage of tirzepatide for obesity‑related sleep disorders
    This template letter supports advocacy for coverage of tirzepatide in patients with obesity‑related sleep disorders, highlighting emerging clinical evidence on the role of weight‑based therapies in improving sleep outcomes and the importance of access to comprehensive, evidence‑based treatment options.
  2. Coverage request for transvenous phrenic nerve stimulation for central sleep apnea
    This template letter requests payer coverage for transvenous phrenic nerve stimulation for central sleep apnea, outlining its clinical appropriateness for select patients and encouraging alignment of payer policies with FDA approval and current clinical practice.

Members are encouraged to customize and use these template letters to support local and regional payer engagement, reinforce evidence‑based sleep medicine care, and advocate for timely patient access to appropriate therapies.

Questions about these letters can be sent to coding@aasm.org