Committee tells AG—s office it will keep in-state licensing requirement for home sleep-test interpretation

At a meeting of the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners—Sleep Medicine Committee, members reviewed questions from the attorney general—s office about a proposed rule that would require physicians who interpret home sleep testing to be licensed in Louisiana and indicated they will maintain the in-state licensing requirement.

The committee discussed three questions raised during the AG—s antitrust review: why the licensing language was added, whether any licensing requirements currently exist for interpreting home sleep tests, and whether unlicensed individuals are currently performing those interpretations. Committee members noted that the addition is intended to ensure out-of-state entities do not ship equipment for home testing and have out-of-state clinicians perform the interpretations, leaving patients outside the board—s jurisdiction for follow-up.

Committee member Dr. Christine Davis told the group that "physicians board certified in sleep medicine are the only ones that are doing those interpretations in the U.S." She added the state requirement is intended to make sure interpreters are within the board—s jurisdiction so "they are held responsible for appropriate face patient follow-up." The committee also discussed recent changes in American Academy of Sleep Medicine (ASM) accreditation wording that allow advanced practice providers (APPs) to participate in interpretation under a board-certified physician—s oversight, but members said no clear national standard requires APPs alone to interpret home tests.

One member summarized the committee—s position by saying, in effect, that the committee would not change the rule language at this point and that staff should return the committee—s responses to the AG—s office. Staff confirmed they would send the committee—s answers back to the AG—s office.

The committee did not take a formal recorded vote on the rule at the meeting; members described the AG—s review as ongoing and treated the discussion as an update and direction to staff to communicate the committee—s position.

Members also expressed concerns about allowing less-experienced clinicians to interpret home tests without additional training, noting that home sleep tests can require removal of artifact and clinical judgment that some said is harder than reading a full diagnostic study.

The committee did not indicate a final rule-adoption date but said the item is advancing through the AG—s review and staff would transmit the committee—s responses to the AG—s office for the record.

The discussion occurred during the committee—s public meeting; no public commenters were recorded on this agenda item.