Purpose of Technology

Mandibular advancement devices (MAD) are oral appliances used for the management of mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This type of oral appliance brings the mandible (lower jaw) forward slightly and thus reduces or relieves the upper airway obstruction and snoring characteristic of OSA.

Questions addressed in this report include:

• Are MAD effective for the treatment of OSA, and how do they compared with a placebo device or active comparators?
• Are there adverse effects associated with the use of MAD?
• Have definitive patient selection criteria been established for use of MAD for the treatment of OSA?

These questions provide a framework for review and synthesis of the best available evidence, which is presented in this report, along with the Hayes Ratings for the technology. This report also provides background information about the condition being treated, a description of the technology, and the context for development of the technology. Other key elements addressed in the report include the regulatory status; applicable Medicare and commercial payer coverage policies; relevant ICD-9 and ICD-10 diagnosis codes; cost and cost effectiveness; credentialing; hospital length of stay; need for large case management; and ongoing and future clinical trials of the technology.

Posted in Directory Reports
This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 17th, 2010 at 12:00 pm.