How to Schedule a Sleep Study

Step One: Order for a study
Your first step is to talk to your neurologist or primary care physician about your symptoms. The Neurology Center for Sleep Disorders will need a written order from your physician for the appropriate test. If you are already being seen by one of our sleep specialists or neurologists you can schedule your appointment at one of our offices when you receive the written order from them during your office visit. If you have been referred to us directly by your primary care doctor, you may need a referral and other insurance information (See step #2 below). You will receive our sleep packet with detailed instructions for your study either at the time of your last visit or in the mail prior to your study.

Step Two: Check your insurance before you come if you are referred to us by a PCP
A sleep study is considered an outpatient diagnostic testing procedure and most medical insurance plans cover sleep studies. However, deductibles and plan coverage varies, so please provide us with your insurance information so we may verify your coverage. Also, you may be responsible for obtaining any insurance referrals or pre-authorization if required by your insurance company prior to the testing procedure if you were referred to us directly from a primary care physician. All charges will be billed directly to you if prior authorization and/or referral is not obtained prior to the testing procedure.

*All patients are required to bring insurance cards and identification at the time of testing *

Step Three: Contact Us
If you did not schedule your study during your last visit, or if you are being referred for testing by your primary care doctor, you can do so at your convenience by calling (301)576-8700 between 8:30AM and 4:30PM, Monday thru Friday.

Sleep testing procedures are typically scheduled from 9PM to 6AM; however, we will try to accommodate any special needs in this regard (i.e. shift workers or circadian delays). If you have any other special needs or requests, please let us know in advance so we can make every reasonable effort to accommodate these needs.

Cancelling a sleep study:
We understand that appointments may need to be rescheduled or cancelled in certain situations. Please be sure to notify the sleep center directly at (301) 576-8700, NO LATER THAN TWO BUSINESS DAYS (M-F 8:30am-4:30pm) prior to your scheduled appointment. Please note that a missed appointment or cancellation made less than two business days (M-F 8:30am-4:30pm) may be subject to a $250 fee. If extenuating circumstances prevent you from calling during regular business hours, please call (301) 654-1500 to reach our overnight staff. Leave a voicemail if necessary.

General Instructions

The following general instructions apply to all overnight sleep studies.  For specific information concerning individual tests please refer to the page specific to the test.

• Hair worn in cornrows, braids or other styles that do not allow access to your scalp must be combed out or removed to facilitate application of scalp electrodes.
• Please avoid using any hairspray or gels in your hair and arrive for your appointment with a clean, dry scalp
• Bring comfortable, modest, clothing to sleep in at night.
• Please avoid using lotion, oils or makeup on your body and face the night of your study.
• If you wish, feel free to bring reading material.
• Your room will be equipped with cable TV and Wi-Fi. Your technician will be able to provide you with the network name and password.
• You will have your own private bathroom with a shower in your room. Towels, shampoo and soap will be provided for your convenience.
• If you have difficulty entering the building, call (301) 654-1500 and one of our staff will assist you.

Testing & Services

As part of a complete sleep diagnostic evaluation, our board-certified sleep doctors or your referring physician may order sleep tests and/or consultation to assess and treat suspected diagnoses, such as sleep apnea, narcolepsy or other sleep disorders. Information obtained from these tests, along with the sleep questionnaires and the sleep consultation, will provide us with a complete picture of your sleep health and sleep architecture.

To schedule a sleep consultation, please contact your physician or call 301.576.8700

For general instructions and preparation for overnight and daytime sleep studies, click on the appropriate study below:

• Polysomnography (PSG)
• Titration Study
• Home Sleep Study (HST)
• Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT)
• Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT)
• Video EEG monitoring (VEEG)

Frequently Asked Questions

Sleep Hygiene

• Go to bed and get out of bed at the same time each day
• Avoid daytime naps or limit them to one mid-afternoon nap that is less than 20 minutes long
• Avoid caffeinated drinks late in the day and alcohol use during the evening
• Eliminate tobacco use, especially at night or in the evening
• Exercise regularly during the day, but avoid evening exercise
• Use the bedroom only for sleep or marital relations; avoid school work, business affairs, TV, exercise,or other activities that could
• lead you to associate your bedroom with these activating experiences
• Keep the bedroom dark, quiet, and comfortable
• Avoid stress and try to clear your thoughts in the evening before sleep
• A regular bedtime routine may help signal your mind that the time to relax and sleep is approaching

Falling Asleep & Staying Asleep Handout

Participating Insurance Plans

The Neurology Center participates in the following insurances, listing current as of 2020:

• Aetna (All products)
• BCBS
• BCBS FEP
• Carefirst
• CIGNA (except Health Springs)
• CoreSource
• Foreign Service Benefit Plan
• GEHA
• Golden Rule
• Great West (Cigna)
• Guardian
• Mail Handlers Benefit Plan
• MDIPA/Optimum Choice
• Medicare
• NALC
• NCAS
• Railroad Medicare
• SAMBA
• United Healthcare (except UHC of the Mid-Atlantic and/or Community Health Plan)

PLEASE NOTE: We DO NOT accept ANY Medicaid coverage at all.

You MUST present your current insurance ID card at EVERY visit.
If a referral is required by your insurance, it is the patient's responsibility to obtain it and bring it to the appointment.

Patient Resources

The following questionnaire is a comprehensive inventory of important details regarding your sleep. The information from this questionnaire will help us to better understand your sleep difficulties and recommend treatment options based on the results of your sleep study. Please take the time to fill this out prior to your appointment. When you arrive for your sleep study, a technician will collect this form from you and place it in your file.

• Home Sleep Study Patient Instructions
• Sleep Questionnaire
• Sleep Diary

Patient Forms

• Medical Release Form
• HIPAA Consent Form