Help us understand the term “visual inspection” as it relates to adherence monitoring. What does this mean and how can it be documented?
The LCD was revised to include allowance for visual inspection based on comments that not all suppliers use devices that allow downloading of adherence information. Visual inspection means determining adherence by looking at information on the PAP device’s display screen and documenting the values in a written report. As noted in a prior FAQ, the supplier may contact the beneficiary via telephone and ask them to read values from their device (i.e., phone-in compliance) or the supplier or physician may read the values during a home/office visit. The values must document that the patient is using the device for 4 or more hours per night for 70% of the nights in a consecutive 30-day period.
