Overnight Sleep Studies
You may be scheduled for a 12-hour or a 23-hour sleep study at one of our sleep testing laboratories. Our sleep laboratories are at Seattle-Cherry Hill (formerly Providence Campus) (map), Issaquah (map) and Northwest Hospital Campus (map) . The purpose of the study is to confirm a diagnosis or initiate treatment. If you are taking any medications, please consult with one of our clinicians before scheduling a sleep study. All testing procedures are billed on an outpatient basis.Insurance Coverage
When scheduling a sleep study, it is very important to call your insurance
company and make sure that a sleep study is a covered benefit with your plan.
The cost to you will vary based on what insurance you have and what percentage
your insurance will pay.
Some good questions to ask your insurance company when checking your coverage are:
- Are you contracted with Sleep Medicine Associates?
- What percentage of the charges will insurance pay for my sleep studies?
- Do I need to meet my deductible before you will pay?
- How much have I paid on my deductible?
- Do I need preauthorization? (If your insurance does require preauthorization, our billing department will work with you and the insurance company to complete the required paperwork.)
On the Day of Your Study
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DO:
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Eat dinner before you check in at Registration. Vending machines are available
on site.
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Bring loose, comfortable sleeping attire, a favorite pillow and necessary
toiletries.
- Bathe, shampoo hair and shave before arriving. Men with beards do not need to shave off their beard.
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Consume any alcohol, and limit food or beverages containing caffeine.
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Take any naps.
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Bring valuables (including personal computers, cellular phones, etc.), as we
cannot be held responsible if they are lost or misplaced.
- Conduct business activities during your stay in the lab.
DO NOT:
What to Expect
A sleep technologist will monitor your sleep throughout the night. To prepare you for your study, several small sensors will be placed on your head, chest and leg regions. These sensors collect information about brain wave activity, breathing, heart rate and body movements during sleep. There are no needles or pain involved in conducting a sleep study.The study will measure the amount and quality of your sleep. After your study is completed, the results are analyzed or "scored" by a sleep technician, interpreted by our sleep medicine physicians, then typed into a report. The findings are sent to your referring healthcare provider in a written format.
Results
Unless otherwise arranged, we will try to see you back in our clinic 5 to 7 working days after your study. At that time, your sleep medicine provider will explain the results of the testing to you. Due to the complexity of this information, the results are to be reviewed in person. Because tabulation of the results is a lengthy process, the results of your testing will not be available the day after your study, by telephone or by asking the technologist. Keep in mind that a sleep study is not something that you can pass or fail. It is merely an overall picture of your sleeping and waking patterns.The Need for Additional Studies
Depending upon the nature and severity of your condition, you may be asked to return to the sleep lab for an additional night of study. This decision is made by the sleep medicine provider either after your first night in the laboratory or after you have met with the provider to get the results of your first study. This additional study (if needed) will last about 12 hours and is billed on an outpatient basis. Your treatment plans will vary, depending upon your diagnosis.Billing
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You may have three separate bills:
- Physician or clinic charges and sleep study interpretation charges
- Sleep study charges from the sleep lab
- Equipment (if ordered by your sleep medicine provider)
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