As previously communicated by the AASM, the California Respiratory Care Board (RCB) voted unanimously in August 2007 to begin issuing citations and fines for the "unlicensed practice of respiratory care associated with polysomnography." In response, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), with concerned sleep medicine specialists and sleep technologists in the state, formed the California Sleep Society (CSS) and developed an initiative to introduce fair legislation.

For the past few months, AASM, CSS, and American Association of Sleep Technologists have been working with California State Senator Don Perata’s office on legislations. As a result of this collective effort, Senate Bill 1526, the Polysomnographic Practice Bill, was introduced on Friday, February 22, 2008. Please note that the bill is a "spot" bill. This enables us to introduce legislation while still working out the details of a formal, comprehensive bill. More information will be sent to members once full language replaces the current spot language.

Please contact AASM Senior Health Policy and Government Affairs Analyst, Ted Thurn, at tthurn@aasm.org or AASM Government Relations Coordinator, Taylor Frawley, at tfrawley@aasm.org or (708) 492-0930 with any questions.