The Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee (MCSAC) and the Medical Review Board (MRB) recently submitted recommendations to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regarding regulatory guidance obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in drivers.  

The MCSAC and MRB were tasked by the FMCSA to develop recommendations for motor carriers, commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers, and medical examiners on obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and whether drivers with this condition should be medically certified to operate CMVs in interstate commerce. Recommendations will be considered by the FMCSA and the department hopes to finalize language this year.

During a hearing on February 6, 2012 addressing OSA recommendations,  the AASM provided comments strongly encouraging that the proposal require patients to be seen by a board-certified sleep medicine physician. AASM emphasized that board-certified sleep physicians possess the experience, knowledge and qualifications to successfully diagnose, treat and manage patients with OSA.  

AASM also provided the Committee information on our proposal to CMS regarding the Innovation Care Delivery and Management Program for Patients with OSA (ICDMPPO) and informed the Committee that the AASM has developed several didactic resources for specific industries that provide education on sleep disorders and fatigue management and information on counter measures and treatments.