CPT® Code 95801

Sleep study, unattended, simultaneous recording; minimum of heart rate, oxygen saturation, and respiratory analysis (eg, by airflow or peripheral arterial tone)

The CPT® Code 95801 refers to an unattended sleep study that is conducted using a portable sleep study system, typically in the patient's home or another ambulatory setting. This type of sleep study is increasingly utilized due to the growing backlog at traditional sleep study centers and the significant number of patients who reside far from these facilities. Unlike full-night polysomnography, which is performed in a sleep center and records a comprehensive range of parameters, the unattended sleep study captured by this code records a minimum of three key physiological parameters: heart rate, oxygen saturation, and respiratory analysis. The respiratory analysis can be conducted through two primary methods: airflow measurement or peripheral arterial tone (PAT). Airflow measurement can be achieved using either a thermal sensor placed on the upper lip or a mask that covers the nose and mouth, both of which evaluate the airflow during sleep. This airflow data is then combined with heart rate and pulse oximetry readings to assess any respiratory disturbances that may occur. On the other hand, PAT measures changes in arterial pulsatile volume in the finger, which reflects the activity of the sympathetic nervous system. This method indirectly detects apnea events by identifying surges in sympathetic activation that occur at the end of an apnea episode. The data collected from PAT, along with heart rate and pulse oximetry, is analyzed by the portable device to calculate the PAT respiratory disturbance index (RDI). The setup of the portable device involves programming it to record the necessary data as the patient sleeps. If airflow is being measured, a snug-fitting mask is placed over the patient's mouth and nose, or a thermal sensor is positioned on the upper lip. For PAT measurement, a device that includes the PAT sensor, heart rate monitor, and oximetry device is attached to the patient's finger. The system then records the relevant data throughout the patient's sleep period. It is important to note that if the sleep time is also measured, the appropriate code to use is 95800, whereas 95801 is used when sleep time is not measured.