refer a patient sleep tmj

Refer A Patient

Gentle Sleep And TMJ Care In Richmond, VA

​​Thank you for choosing to refer a patient to Virginia Sleep and TMJ Therapy. Our doctors and entire team aim to help patients in the area have healthier and more restful sleep. To refer a patient, simply fill out the form below and our team will be in touch shortly for more information. We look forward to hearing from you!

Referring A Sleep Apnea Patient

When referring a sleep apnea patient to our practice, qualified sleep physicians should follow these guidelines:

  • After referring your patient to us, we will contact the patient to schedule a consultation.

  • The patient will attend a consultation, receive an oral appliance and follow the treatment plan.

  • Once the patient’s symptoms have resolved, Virginia Sleep & TMJ Therapy will refer the patient back to their sleep physician.

  • The sleep physician evaluates the patient to determine the final efficacy of the oral appliance therapy. We ask that the sleep physician shares the results of their evaluation with us.

Working With Referring Practices

We are happy to work with referring physicians. We ask that providers who wish to refer a patient review the following information about patient care at our practice.

Diagnosis

Ostructive sleep apnea can only be diagnosed through a polysomnographic study, which is conducted overnight in a sleep lab or by a home sleep test. All sleep studies must be interpreted by a qualified sleep physician. Depending on the diagnosis and the degree of the patient’s obstructive sleep apnea, the reffering sleep physician will determine the most effective treatment.

Referral

  • We require the following information from the referring sleep physican in order to proceed with treatment:
  • Prescription for oral appliance therapy
  • Baseline sleep study
  • Clinical Notes/Letter of Medical Necessity
  • Patient’s medical insurance card

Virginia Sleep & TMJ Therapy takes care of the insurance process for our patients! Before the patient’s consultation, we verify coverage and reimbursement amounts for the oral appliance. We will also file all medical claims. This means no frustrating phone calls for the patient and no surprises when they come in for their first visit. We are a:

  • Participating Provider for all Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO plans
  • Participating Provider for all Anthem Healthkeepers Plans (Not including Healthkeepers Plus)
  • Participating Provider for all Cigna PPO Plans
  • Participating Durable Medical Equipment Supplier for Medicare

For the portion of the cost that may not be covered by a patient’s insurance plan, Virginia Sleep & TMJ Therapy offers several financing options.

Patients will receive the oral appliance anywhere from one to five weeks after impressions are taken. How quickly they receive their device depends on the type of appliance. At their next appointment, the patient will receive thorough guidance on the insertion and removal of the appliance. We also make sure patients know how to care for and clean their devices. Our office will notify the referring physician when the appliance is delivered. We will contact the patient two days after delivery to ensure that they are comfortable with the appliance. financing options.

The patient will return to our office for several follow-up visits, during which we will gradually titrate the mandible forward until the patient reports that their symptoms have resolved. If the patient experiences any problems with or has questions about the oral appliance, we encourage them to contact our office immediately.

After their symptoms are resolved, we will refer the patient back to their diagnosing sleep physician to determine the final efficacy of oral appliance therapy. We find that the best way to determine the efficacy is to have the patient complete another sleep study while wearing the oral appliance at its ideal protrusion. This tells us whether or not the appliance is effectively treating the patient’s sleep apnea. If it is not effective, we will work with the sleep physician to determine treatment options. Often, we will advance the mandible.

Throughout the treatment process, we will stay in close contact with the referring sleep physician. We will share information, keep the physician informed of the patient’s progress and even ask for input.

Refer A Patient

To Virginia Sleep & TMJ Therapy

Please complete the form below to refer a patient.