Billing and Coding: Polysomnography and Other Sleep Studies

The following coding and billing guidance is to be used with its associated
Local coverage determination.

**Documentation Requirements**  

Documentation must show that the polysomnography (95808, 95810 and 95811) was
performed in a facility based sleep study laboratory and not in the home or a
mobile facility.  
  
The sleep disorder clinic must have on file, in the patient's record,
documentation that narcolepsy symptoms are severe enough to interfere with the
patient's well-being and health.  
If more than two nights of testing are performed, documentation justifying the
medical necessity for the additional test(s) must be available in the
patient's medical record.  
  
Documentation must show that the home sleep test (HST) (G0398, G0399 and
G0400) was performed in conjunction with a comprehensive sleep evaluation and
in patients with a high pretest probability of moderate to severe obstructive
sleep apnea.  
  
The patient who undergoes a HST must receive, prior to the test, adequate
instruction on how to properly apply a portable sleep monitoring device. This
instruction must be provided by the provider conducting the HST.  
  
Documentation must show that the home sleep test was accomplished with a
Medicare-approved device (e.g., description of channels monitored or clear
indications of same included in the test report) and was performed by a
physician meeting the training requirements listed in the "Coverage
Indications, Limitations, and/or Medical Necessity Section.  
  
Parameters monitored and documented:  
  

    * Start time and duration of day/night of study.



    * Total sleep time, sleep efficiency, number/duration of awakenings.



    * For tests involving sleep staging: time and percent time spent in each stage;



    * For tests monitoring sleep latency or maintenance of wakefulness testing: latency to both Non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM) and Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep.



    * Individual sub-test sleep latencies, mean sleep latency and the number of REM occurrences on Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT).



    * Respiratory patterns including type (central/obstructive/periodic), number and duration, effect on oxygenation, sleep stage/body position relationship, and response to any diagnostic and /or therapeutic maneuvers.



    * Cardiac rate/rhythm and any effect of sleep-disordered breathing on EKG.



    * Detailed behavioral observations.



  * EEG or EMG abnormalities.

  
The patient is to be referred to the clinic by the attending physician. The
physician's order must be kept in the medical record  
  
 **Utilization Guidelines**  
More than one HST per year interval would not be expected. If more than one
HST session is performed for suspected OSA, persuasive medical evidence
justifying the medical necessity for the additional tests will be required.
Similarly, more than two PSG per year interval would not be expected. If more
than two PSG sessions are performed for the diagnosis or adjustment of
treatment of sleep, pervasive medical evidence justifying the medical
necessity for the additional tests will be required upon request. When
services are performed in excess of established parameters, they may be
subject to review for medical necessity.  
  
The routine use of more than one PSG to titrate CPAP therapy would not be
considered reasonable and necessary. If more than one CPAP titration PSG is
claimed, persuasive medical evidence justifying the medical necessity for the
additional tests may be requested.  
  
95805 MSLT- includes all the naps done in a single day. Only one (1) unit of
service should be submitted.