Sleep studies - MBS item (12217)

The following MBS item is included in this clinical category.

12217
Overnight paediatric investigation, for at least 8 hours, for a patient aged at least 12 years but less than 18 years, if: (a) the patient is referred by a medical practitioner; and (b) the necessity for the investigation is determined by a qualified sleep medicine practitioner before the investigation; and (c) there is continuous monitoring of oxygen saturation and breathing using a multi-channel polygraph, and recordings of the following are made, in accordance with current professional guidelines: (i) airflow; (ii) continuous EMG; (iii) ECG; (iv) EEG (with a minimum of 4 EEG leads or, in selected investigations, a minimum of 6 EEG leads); (v) EOG; (vi) oxygen saturation; (vii) respiratory movement of rib and abdomen (whether movement of rib is recorded separately from, or together with, movement of abdomen); (viii) measurement of carbon dioxide (either end-tidal or transcutaneous); and (d) a sleep technician, or registered nurse with sleep technology training, is in continuous attendance under the supervision of a qualified sleep medicine practitioner; and (e) polygraphic records are: (i) analysed (for assessment of sleep stage, and maturation of sleep indices, arousals, respiratory events and assessment of clinically significant alterations in heart rate and body movement) with manual scoring, or manual correction of computerised scoring in epochs of not more than 1 minute; and (ii) stored for interpretation and preparation of a report; and (f) interpretation and report are provided by a qualified sleep medicine practitioner based on reviewing the direct original recording of polygraphic data from the patient; and (g) a further investigation is indicated in the same 12 month period to which item 12213 applies to a service for the patient, for a patient using Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) or non-invasive or invasive ventilation, or supplemental oxygen, in either or both of the following circumstances: (i) there is ongoing hypoxia or hypoventilation on the third study to which item 12213 applied for the patient, and further titration is needed to optimise therapy; (ii) there is clear and significant change in clinical status (for example lung function or functional status) or an intervening treatment that may affect ventilation in the period since the third study to which item 12213 applied for the patient, and repeat study is therefore required to determine the need for or the adequacy of respiratory support; and (h) the investigation is not provided to the patient on the same occasion that a service to which item 11704, 11705, 11707, 11714, 11716, 11717, 11723 or 11735 applies is provided to the patient Applicable only once in the same 12 month period to which item 12213 applies