Summary: The AASM urges for permanent telehealth coverage for sleep disorder care, highlighting its effectiveness in improving patient outcomes, enhancing access to care, and promoting health equity. As CMS telehealth flexibilities, which were introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, are set to expire this month, the AASM stresses the importance of extending telehealth coverage to maintain patient safety and clinician efficiency. The AASM also calls for expanded research and improved access to technology, particularly in rural areas, to optimize telehealth integration into sleep medicine.
Key Takeaways:
- Permanent Coverage Needed: AASM advocates for permanent telehealth coverage to support sleep disorder care and improve patient outcomes.
- CMS Flexibility Expiring: Current CMS telehealth flexibilities, set to expire this month, are crucial for the continuation of effective sleep medicine care, according to the AASM’s new position statement.
- Focus on Access and Equity: AASM calls for increased broadband access and research to optimize telehealth’s role in sleep disorder treatment, particularly for underserved populations.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) has issued a new position statement advocating for permanent telehealth coverage, emphasizing its role in providing high-quality, patient-centered care for individuals with sleep disorders.
The position statement, published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, comes as current telehealth flexibilities implemented by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency are set to expire this month. The AASM emphasizes that permanent coverage with adequate reimbursement is vital for the long-term acceptance and expansion of telehealth services.
“Sleep medicine is uniquely suited for telehealth delivery due to limited provider access, safety concerns with sleepy patients, and the availability of remote patient monitoring for treatment management,” says Kunwar Praveen Vohra, MD, MBA, lead author and member of the AASM advocacy committee, in a release. “The minimal need for repeated physical examinations in sleep medicine makes it an ideal field for telehealth implementation.”
Research demonstrates that digitally delivered care is equally effective in improving sleep quality, and it can advance health equity, further reinforcing the need for permanent coverage. For instance, evidence shows that telehealth-supported treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, can improve both patient outcomes and treatment adherence when conducted virtually.
Telehealth Improves Access and Safety
Additionally, telehealth integration tackles critical health care challenges by expanding patient access, boosting clinician efficiency, and enhancing patient safety, according to the AASM.
“Telehealth eliminates the need for sleepy patients to drive to appointments, reducing crash risks while facilitating access to care for underserved populations,” Vohra says in a release. “This is particularly important for patients with conditions like sleep apnea and narcolepsy who experience excessive daytime sleepiness.”
The AASM calls for stakeholders to address several key areas to optimize telehealth services, including payment models, interstate care regulations, technology access, and prescribing practices. The organization emphasizes the importance of payment parity between audiovisual and in-office visits to ensure financial viability.
To support the continued growth of sleep telehealth services, the AASM recommends expanding research to evaluate outcomes, access to care, cost-effectiveness, and optimal integration into clinical practice. The organization also emphasizes the need for increased access to broadband networks, particularly in rural areas, to ensure telehealth is accessible and safe for all patients.
On March 6, 2020, CMS expanded telehealth under the 1135 waivers, offering reimbursement for telehealth visits. This coverage was extended through December 2024.
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