Home Sleep Testing (HST)
Convenient at-home testing with professional oversight. Don't let a cheap test cost you thousands in denied treatment.
Ready for Better Sleep?
Don't let home sleep testing (hst) control your life. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Jain today.
Contact Us (214) 308-1525Dream Difference
- Average wait time: Days, not months.
- AASM Accredited Lab
- Interpreted by Board Certified Sleep Specialists
Home Sleep Testing (HST) offers the convenience of testing in your own bed while maintaining the professional standards required by insurance companies and Medicare. Not all home sleep tests are created equal, and the difference can determine whether your insurance covers your diagnosis and treatment.
The $99 Test Trap
Beware of ultra-cheap online sleep tests ($99 or less). These tests often fail to meet insurance payor criteria, which can result in:
- Test not accepted - Insurance denies payment for the test itself
- Treatment denied - CPAP, oral appliances, or other therapies rejected
- Advanced treatments blocked - Inspire or Genio surgery denied due to inadequate testing
"You pay for a cheap test, then pay again for proper testing when insurance denies coverage."
Insurance-Compliant Testing
Our home sleep tests meet strict insurance payor criteria:
- AASM Accreditation - Lab meets national standards
- Board-Certified Physician - Interpreted by sleep medicine specialist
- AASM Scoring Guidelines - Proper methodology and documentation
- Medical Evaluation - Includes physician consultation
These aren't optional. Insurance companies require them.
The Primary Care Test Problem
We frequently see patients who received home sleep tests from their primary care physician's office, only to discover the test cannot be used for treatment authorization. This creates frustrating situations where:
What Happens
- • Test wasn't interpreted by a board-certified sleep medicine physician
- • Testing facility lacks AASM accreditation
- • Medicare LCD requirements not met
- • Scoring methodology doesn't follow AASM guidelines
The Impact
- • Patient paid for a test that can't be used
- • Insurance denies CPAP or treatment coverage
- • Must repeat testing (time and cost)
- • Delay in receiving needed treatment
This isn't anyone trying to "redo tests for more money" - it's insurance companies enforcing their coverage requirements. We've seen this with BCBS, Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, and especially Medicare. Unfortunately, if the test wasn't done correctly the first time, it must be repeated to meet payor criteria.
Medicare LCD Requirements
Medicare's Local Coverage Determination (LCD) has very specific requirements for sleep testing. These requirements also influence many private insurance policies:
Facility Accreditation
Sleep testing facility must be accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) or equivalent.
Board-Certified Physician
Study must be interpreted by a physician who is board-certified in sleep medicine by ABMS or AOA.
Registered Technicians
For in-lab studies, technologists must be registered (RPSGT) or registry-eligible. Home tests require proper oversight.
Dream Sleep Medicine meets all Medicare LCD requirements: Dr. Vikas Jain is board-certified in sleep medicine, our facility is AASM-accredited, and all lab technicians are RPSGT-registered.
"But Isn't SleepImage Just an Oura Ring?"
We completely understand this question - the devices look similar! The difference is like comparing a Fitbit to an EKG machine. Both measure heart rate, but only one is FDA-cleared to diagnose cardiac conditions. Insurance companies require FDA-cleared medical devices, not consumer wellness trackers, to authorize treatment coverage.
Medical Device vs Consumer Tracker
| Consumer Devices (Oura, Wellvue, etc.) | Medical Devices (SleepImage, WatchPAT) | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Wellness tracking | FDA-cleared diagnosis |
| Clinical Validation | None required | Validated vs polysomnography |
| What You Get | Raw sleep data | Diagnostic-grade analysis |
| Software | General algorithms | FDA-cleared SaMD* |
| Insurance Accepted | ❌ No | ✓ Yes |
| Meets AASM Standards | ❌ No | ✓ Yes |
| Out-of-Pocket Cost | $79-$179 | Usually covered by insurance |
| Best For | General wellness | Medical diagnosis & treatment |
*SaMD = Software as a Medical Device - FDA-cleared proprietary algorithms that analyze sleep data for diagnostic purposes
The Real Question:
"Will a $79 ring get your CPAP covered by insurance?" No.
Consumer sleep trackers are excellent for wellness and general trends, but they're fundamentally different from medical diagnostic devices. When your insurance covers a CPAP machine, HGNS surgery, or other treatments based on the results, the difference becomes clear. You're not paying for a ring - you're paying for FDA-cleared diagnostic software that insurance companies accept.
Multi-Night Testing Protocol
The Single-Night Problem
Sleep apnea severity varies significantly night-to-night due to sleep position, REM sleep percentage, alcohol consumption, nasal congestion, and other factors. A single night of testing can miss the diagnosis entirely.
Our research (AASM 2026) showed that one in six Inspire candidates (16.79%) are missed by single-night testing. For patients under 65, the miss rate for hypoglossal nerve stimulation eligibility is even higher.
Our Multi-Night Advantage
- Multiple nights capture true disease severity
- Identifies patients missed by single-night tests
- Better qualification for advanced treatments
- More accurate insurance authorization
How Home Sleep Testing Works
Consultation
Meet with Dr. Jain to review symptoms and determine if HST is appropriate
Device Setup
Pick up home testing device with detailed instructions on proper use
Sleep at Home
Wear device for multiple nights in your own bed
Results Review
Board-certified interpretation and treatment plan discussion
When is Home Sleep Testing Appropriate?
Good Candidates for HST
- • High likelihood of moderate-to-severe sleep apnea
- • No significant comorbid sleep disorders
- • No severe heart or lung disease
- • Ability to sleep at home without difficulty
- • Preference for convenience over in-lab testing
Consider In-Lab Testing If:
- • Suspected central sleep apnea or periodic limb movements
- • Narcolepsy or other complex sleep disorders
- • Severe heart failure or COPD
- • Pediatric patient (children require in-lab)
- • Previous HST was inconclusive or inadequate
Dr. Jain will determine the most appropriate testing method during your consultation.
Last reviewed: February 2026 by Dr. Vikas Jain, MD, FAASM, Board-Certified Sleep Medicine Specialist
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