As sleep medicine professionals, we know that patient access to high-quality care depends not only on clinical excellence but also on sound health policy. That is why I am asking AASM members to take a few minutes to participate in an important advocacy effort.
CMS is currently accepting comments on the proposed valuation of six new unattended sleep testing codes that will replace the current home sleep apnea testing codes beginning Jan. 1, 2027. These codes were developed through extensive collaboration among the AASM and partner specialty societies and reflect advances in sleep technology as well as the growing complexity of sleep medicine practice.
The decisions CMS makes now will influence how these services are valued and reimbursed for years to come. Fair valuation is essential to ensuring that sleep physicians and sleep centers have the resources necessary to provide high-quality unattended sleep testing and maintain patient access to timely diagnosis and treatment.
The AASM will submit comments to CMS on behalf of the sleep medicine community. However, individual comments from physicians, sleep centers, and other stakeholders also play an important role in the rulemaking process. Your firsthand experience can help CMS better understand the clinical work, staff resources, equipment needs, and physician expertise required to provide these services.
I encourage you to review the AASM’s comments, personalize the template letter with examples from your own practice, and submit your comments before the deadline on Monday, Sept. 14.
CMS also has requested additional pricing information for the equipment and supplies used to provide these services. If your practice or sleep center can provide current equipment invoices, I encourage you to submit them so CMS can base its final payment rates on the best available data.
Every comment helps strengthen our collective voice and reinforces the importance of policies that support high-quality sleep care.
Thank you for your commitment to your patients, our profession, and the future of sleep medicine. Together, we can help ensure that policymakers understand the value of the care we provide every day.
Warm regards,
Fariha
Fariha Abbasi-Feinberg, MD, FAASM, FAAN
President
