The AASM is NOW accepting volunteer applications. Call for volunteers to serve during the 2010/2011 administrative year is open from February 5, 2010 through March 3, 2010.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine invites members to participate on a standing committee. Volunteer committee members provide an invaluable service to the organization by contributing to initiatives and projects that are critical to the continued development of the field. Members also gain professional enrichment through the diverse activities of a committee.

Eleven standing committees will engage in diverse activities such as discussing and evaluating reimbursement policies, creating professional standards, and consulting on the creation of education materials. Look below for brief descriptions of each committee.

Service on a committee is a one-year appointment. Members may be reappointed as a committee member on a yearly basis for a maximum three-year term, unless appointed to a vice-chair or chair position at which time an additional three-year term may be served; all committee terms take effect in June at SLEEP 2010, 24th Annual Meeting of the APSS. Notification of appointment or non-appointment will be sent by mid-April.

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Academic Affairs Committee

This committee exists to promote sleep medicine as an academic specialty in medical schools. Specifically, the committee oversees the Program of Recognition of Comprehensive Academic Sleep Programs of Distinction.

Accreditation Committee

Accreditation Committee members are responsible for monitoring the standards of AASM accreditation for sleep disorders centers to ensure that they represent current practices. This includes recommending changes in the standards to the Board of Directors when necessary. Committee members may also be asked to review applications for accreditation and responses to provisos, and conduct reviews of centers/labs with special circumstances (i.e., relocation, change in medical director, etc.). Further, the Accreditation Committee recommends accreditation status for full-service centers and sleep disordered breathing labs.

Documents Review Committee

The Documents Review Committee triages project proposals that may result in the creation of an AASM policy document.

Education Committee

The Education Committee proposes, plans, develops, and disseminates educational programs and initiatives and educational products concerning sleep medicine and sleep research. This is done with the purpose of meeting the educational needs of the AASM membership, other medical professionals, medical schools and the lay public. The committee also facilitates the Mini-Fellowship Program for International Scholars and the Mini-Fellowship Program for Behavioral Sleep Medicine.

Health Policy Committee

The Health Policy Committee is responsible for addressing issues such as reimbursement with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and third party payors; Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC); and state legislative issues such as scope of practice, licensure, education, and training.

Nosology Committee

The Nosology Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of the diagnostic classification system of sleep disorders. In this capacity, the committee maintains an active exchange of information with the international classification system, proposing and lobbying for inclusion of sleep disorder classifications within the system. Committee members develop materials that complement the International Classification of Sleep Disorders and serve as useful clinical and educational adjuncts to this reference book.

Research Committee

The Research Committee facilitates and promotes basic and clinical research in the sleep field. This group facilitates the AASM Young Investigator Award, presented each year at the SLEEP Annual Meeting. Additionally, the committee serves as a primary review source for the American Sleep Medicine Foundation.

Sleep Technologist Issues Committee

Having an adequate number of well-trained technologists is essential. This committee supervises AASM educational programs for sleep technologists, specifically, the growing A-STEP program. Committee members also host a forum at the SLEEP Annual Meeting for technologists.

Standards of Practice Committee

The Standards of Practice Committee develops and updates evidence-based practice parameters for sleep medicine. These recommendations are developed through the review of the available scientific literature and subsequent grading of the evidence. The purpose of the practice parameters is to provide scientifically sound guidance to physicians in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders.

Presidential Committee on Coding and Compliance

The Mandate of the Presidential Committee on Coding and Compliance is two-fold: 1) to participate in preparing the formal AASM response to sleep medicine issues related to Coding (Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and Relative Value Scale Update Committee [RUC]) activities; and 2) to develop/provide educational materials/programs regarding coding and compliance for AASM members.

Council of Fellowship Training Directors

The Council is composed of Program Directors of ACGME-accredited sleep medicine fellowship training programs. Committee members are also tasked with holding a forum for fellowship training directors at the SLEEP Annual Meeting. Committee members also work on the development, maintenance and implementation of in-service examinations for fellowship training programs.