More topics

Remote Access to Home Sleep Apnea Testing

Last updated on April 3, 2025

On June 19, 2024, the Medical Services Commission approved the Ministry of Health’s recommendation to allow the provision of remote Home Sleep Apnea Testing (HSAT) in underserved, rural/remote communities, where individuals may have significant barriers to accessing facilities that provide HSAT.  

 Remote HSAT service provision is where diagnostic equipment is sent to the patient and instruction in using the equipment is provided virtually. 

 The Ministry of Health utilized the Rural Retention Program's Rural Subsidiary Agreement (RSA) Designations as a basis for identifying the rural/remote communities that are eligible for remote HSAT service provision. 

A detailed list of RSA designated A, B and C communities can be found at: Rural Practice Subsidiary Agreement - Province of British Columbia. 

 To improve access to HSAT services for people living in rural/remote locations, the Medical Services Commission approved the recommendation with the following requirements: 

  • Approved HSAT and Level I facilities located in, or with proximity/providing remote services to, RSA designated A, B and C communities, must record all rural/remote service provision, including the rationale for each instance.  

  • The Ministry will monitor facilities through bi-annual, rotating spot-checks of facility data. 

  • The Ministry will amend the letters of approval for each of these facilities to include permission to provide rural/remote service delivery to RSA designated A, B and C communities and include the associated reporting requirements as a condition of approval. 

  • The facility will seek accreditation from the Diagnostic Accreditation Program of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia for an additional scope of “Remote Services”. 

 The new policy can be found in Advisory Committee on Diagnostic Facilities (ACDF) Policy & Guidelines, Part 2, Policy 2.4.3, Assessment Criteria: Service-Specific Criteria, Polysomnography - Four-Channel Home Polysomnography (Level III, Home Sleep Apnea Testing). For details see:  Policies and Guidelines - Province of British Columbia. 

Comments or questions concerning the new Remote Access to Home Sleep Apnea Testing policy may be directed to DFadmin@gov.bc.ca.