VA Benefits for Sleep Apnea – Fort Worth, TX
Better Sleep for Veterans
Dr. Conditt and our team hold veterans in the highest regard. One of the small ways in which we show our appreciation is by welcoming active and retired service members to use their VA benefits in our practice. How exactly can you take advantage of this provision, and how might your health and overall wellness benefit if you do so? This page explains some important information. You are always invited to call us if you have any questions about what you read.
How Sleep Apnea Affects Veterans
There is a high rate of sleep disorders among veterans. While sleep problems can affect anyone, they are especially prominent among our U.S service members. The truth is, there simply is not enough research to give us concreate evidence on what causes these sleep-related issues. What we do know is that stress, sleep deprivation, anxiety, exposure to toxins (i.e. burn pits) and/or traumatic events can have serious consequences and impact sleep health.
While obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is among the most common sleep disorders, it should not be ignored! This condition causes one to stop breathing in their sleep. This increases your risk of heart attack, hypertension, diabetes, stroke, and depression. One study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that undiagnosed and untreated sleep apnea afflicts 52.1% percent of veterans. Another study published by The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) found that of the 195 vets with PTSD studied, 69.2% were at high risk for OSA. When both OSA and PTSD are left untreated, the symptoms can exacerbate one another, causing a harmful decline in health.
How We Can Help
It is imperative to seek treatment for OSA. Fort Worth Snoring and Sleep Center can help. We offer FREE airway screenings and sleep consultations for all U.S Veterans and active service members regardless of your insurance or VA status. CPAP therapy is typically a first-line treatment prescribed by your VA healthcare team. We understand that CPAP is not right for every veteran. In fact, there are many who are intolerant to PAP machines or have other medical considerations that make PAP therapy inadvisable.
Once a treatment plan is agreed upon by you and your VA healthcare team, we can provide you with a custom-made oral appliance. According to the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, oral appliance therapy is an effective treatment option for OSA. Your appliance supports your jaw in a forward, yet comfortable position, to help maintain an open upper airway. It is worn in your mouth while you sleep, similar to an orthodontic retainer. We are community providers with Veteran Affairs, and we want to help you take advantage of the benefits you are entitled to!
As contracted providers and a member of the TriWest Healthcare Alliance, our services could be 100% covered with a referral from the VA. That means you may have to pay absolutely nothing out of pocket when you visit us!
How to Use Your VA Benefits for Sleep Apnea Treatment
Here are some notes about how to use your VA benefits for sleep apnea treatment:
- FIND AN IN-NETWORK COMMUNITY PROVIDER. You have already completed step one by finding us! We are an in-network community provider!
- Get a referral from your VA healthcare team. Ask your VA healthcare team for a referral. They will review your request to make sure you’re eligible. Then they will contact you to confirm that you want community care and the type of appointment you need. They will then prepare your referral.
- Schedule your appointment. After you have your referral, you can schedule your appointment yourself. Oryou can ask your VA health care team to schedule it for you. If you schedule yourself, tell your VA healthcare team within 14 days. Your team will put this information in your chart so that we can coordinate your eligibility and benefits!
- Make sure you have your authorization letter. Your VA healthcare team will send you an authorization letter. This letter is your approval for care.
- Go to your appointment. By this point, we should have all our medical records provided to us by your VA care team. Be sure to be prompt and not miss your appointments as doing so may cause delays in your treatment. This could result in loss of approval for your continued care with Fort Worth Snoring and Sleep Center.
Do you have questions about how we may be able to help you start sleeping better? Get in touch with us today! We can walk you though the process ahead of you and make the process of using your VA benefits as stress-free as possible.
*VA reserves the right to make changes in the referral process. For any questions concerning Community Care providers, process or changes to your referral please contact your local VA