DARIEN, IL — The American Academy of Sleep Drugs has issued a brand new place assertion advocating for everlasting telehealth protection, emphasizing its important function in offering high-quality, patient-centered care for people with sleep problems.
The place assertion, printed as an accepted paper within the Journal of Scientific Sleep Drugs, comes at an important turning level as present telehealth flexibilities carried out by the Facilities for Medicare and Medicaid Companies in response to the COVID-19 public well being emergency are set to run out this month. The AASM emphasizes that everlasting protection with satisfactory reimbursement is important for the long-term acceptance and enlargement of telehealth companies.
“Sleep drugs is uniquely suited to telehealth supply as a result of restricted supplier entry, security issues with sleepy sufferers, and the supply of distant affected person monitoring for therapy administration,” mentioned Dr. Kunwar Praveen Vohra, lead writer and member of the AASM Advocacy Committee. “The minimal want for repeated bodily examinations in sleep drugs makes it a great area for telehealth implementation.”
Analysis demonstrates that digitally delivered care is equally efficient in enhancing sleep high quality, and it may well advance well being fairness, additional reinforcing the necessity for everlasting protection. For example, proof exhibits that telehealth-supported therapies, resembling cognitive behavioral remedy for insomnia, can enhance each affected person outcomes and therapy adherence when performed just about.
Moreover, telehealth integration tackles essential well being care challenges by increasing affected person entry, boosting clinician effectivity, and enhancing affected person security.
“Telehealth eliminates the necessity for sleepy sufferers to drive to appointments, lowering crash dangers whereas facilitating entry to take care of underserved populations,” Vohra mentioned. “That is notably vital for sufferers with situations like sleep apnea and narcolepsy who expertise extreme daytime sleepiness.”
The AASM requires stakeholders to handle a number of key areas to optimize telehealth companies, together with fee fashions, interstate care laws, know-how entry, and prescribing practices. The group emphasizes the significance of fee parity between audiovisual and in-office visits to make sure monetary viability.
To help the continued development of sleep telehealth companies, the AASM recommends increasing analysis to judge outcomes, entry to care, cost-effectiveness, and optimum integration into scientific apply. The group additionally emphasizes the necessity for elevated entry to broadband networks, notably in rural areas, to make sure telehealth is accessible and secure for all sufferers.
Anybody who has a sleep downside can use the AASM’s sleep middle listing to get assist from the sleep staff at an accredited sleep middle.
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To request a replica of the place assertion, “Suggestions for everlasting sleep telehealth: an American Academy of Sleep Drugs place assertion,” or to rearrange an interview with lead writer, Dr. Kunwar Praveen Vohra, please contact the AASM at media@aasm.org. Accepted papers, that are printed on-line previous to their remaining inclusion in a problem of the journal, usually are not embargoed. The place assertion was posted as an accepted paper on Oct. 23 and is scheduled to be printed within the Feb. 1, 2025, problem of the Journal of Scientific Sleep Drugs.
Concerning the American Academy of Sleep Drugs
Established in 1975, the AASM is a medical affiliation that advances sleep care and enhances sleep well being to enhance lives. The AASM membership consists of greater than 9,500 physicians, scientists, and different well being care professionals who assist individuals who have sleep problems. The AASM additionally accredits 2,300 sleep facilities which can be offering the best high quality of sleep care throughout the nation.
