The AASM Payer Policy Review Committee recently reviewed five payer policies, focusing on diagnostic testing for obstructive sleep apnea in adults. The Committee evaluated the insurers’ policies and assigned a score based on nine criteria, aligned with the AASM’s Clinical Practice Guideline for Diagnostic Testing for Adult Obstructive Apnea.  Payers whose policies were reviewed include:

  1. Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina
  2. Blue Shield of California
  3. Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program
  4. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona
  5. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota
  6. Aetna revised policy

AASM scorecards are created to evaluate how effective payer policies are at establishing appropriate coverage for diagnostic sleep testing services and to encourage insurers to adopt evidence-based policies that support patient safety and delivery of high-quality care.

All guideline scorecards are available for review and download on the Private Payers page of the AASM website. AASM members can send payer policy-related questions to coding@aasm.org.