For physicians & referring providers
Refer a Patient for Oral Appliance Therapy
A trusted dental sleep medicine partner for your patients with obstructive sleep apnea and snoring, in Poway and across the San Diego region.
We welcome referrals from every specialty and every type of healthcare provider. You stay at the center of your patient's care. We handle the oral appliance, the follow-up and the paperwork, and we keep you informed at every step.
Phone (858) 956-7928 · Fax (858) 487-4281
Why refer to Complete Health Sleep SoCal?
- Board-certified in dental sleep medicine. Dr. Erela Katz Rappaport, DMD, is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine (D-ABDSM) and a Qualified Dentist with the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM).
- Medicare accepted. We are a Medicare Part B provider and a Medicare-enrolled DME supplier for oral appliances, so we bill Medicare directly for your patient's appliance.
- Custom, FDA-cleared appliances. Each mandibular advancement device is custom-made for the patient and adjusted to effect.
- Testing when needed. If your patient has not had a sleep study, we can help arrange home sleep testing.
- Collaborative care. We keep you informed with updates on your patient's treatment and results.
Who refers to us?
Sleep apnea affects the whole body, so referrals come from across medicine and dentistry. We gladly work with any provider, including:
- Sleep medicine
- Primary care & family medicine
- Internal medicine
- Functional & integrative medicine
- Naturopathic doctors
- DOT medical examiners & occupational medicine
- Pulmonology
- Cardiology
- ENT / otolaryngology
- Neurology
- Endocrinology & diabetes care
- OB-GYN & women's health
- Psychiatry & behavioral health
- Weight management & bariatrics
- Geriatrics
- Urology & nephrology
- Gastroenterology
- Rheumatology
- Pain management
- Dentists & hygienists
- Orthodontists
- Oral & maxillofacial surgeons
- TMJ & orofacial pain specialists
- Myofunctional therapists
- Physical therapists
- Chiropractors
- Nurse practitioners & physician assistants
Don't see your specialty? We welcome every referral. Call us at (858) 956-7928.
Which patients are good candidates for oral appliance therapy?
Clinical practice guidelines from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine recommend oral appliance therapy for adults with obstructive sleep apnea who are intolerant of CPAP or prefer an alternative therapy. Oral appliances are also an effective treatment for primary snoring.
Consider referring patients who:
- Have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea and cannot tolerate, or decline, CPAP
- Snore loudly and want treatment
- Travel often or need a portable option alongside CPAP
- Have symptoms of sleep apnea but have not yet been tested
We evaluate each patient's teeth, jaw joints and airway to confirm that an oral appliance is a good fit before starting treatment.
Services you can refer for
- Oral appliance therapy for obstructive sleep apnea and snoring
- Home sleep testing (HST)
- Consultation for patients who want to explore alternatives to CPAP
- Myofunctional therapy
How to refer a patient
Choose whichever is easiest for your office:
- Online: complete the secure referral form below with your details and your patient's.
- By fax: download our Letter of Medical Necessity and Rx, complete and sign it, and fax it to (858) 487-4281.
- By phone: call our office at (858) 956-7928.
If available, please include the patient's most recent sleep study report and relevant clinical notes. This helps us verify benefits and schedule the patient faster.
Online referral form
Our Letter of Medical Necessity (LOMN)
Our one-page Letter of Medical Necessity and Rx gives insurers and Medicare the documentation they need for an oral appliance. It includes:
- The referral reason: oral appliance therapy, HST, consultation or myofunctional therapy
- A prescription for a mandibular advancement device (HCPCS E0486)
- The diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea (ICD-10 G47.33)
- A statement of medical necessity, with length of need
- Prescribing physician's name, NPI, signature and contact details
What happens after you refer a patient
- We contact your patient. Our team calls to schedule a consultation and checks their insurance or Medicare benefits.
- Consultation and exam. Dr. Rappaport reviews the sleep study and history and examines the teeth, jaw joints and airway. If the patient has not been tested, we help arrange a sleep test.
- Custom appliance. We take records and order a custom, FDA-cleared oral appliance made for your patient.
- Fitting and adjustment. We fit the appliance and adjust it over follow-up visits to improve symptoms and comfort.
- Confirming results. A follow-up sleep test checks how well the appliance is working.
- Keeping you informed. We share updates and results with you, and continue long-term follow-up care with your patient.
Frequently asked questions from physicians
Do you accept Medicare?
Yes. Dr. Rappaport is a Medicare Part B provider and a Medicare-enrolled DME supplier for oral appliances, so we bill Medicare directly for the appliance. Our team also verifies commercial insurance benefits for each patient.
Does my patient need a sleep study before referral?
No. If your patient has a sleep study, please send the report with the referral. If not, we can help arrange home sleep testing.
What do I need to send with a referral?
The completed online form or our signed Letter of Medical Necessity, plus the most recent sleep study report and relevant clinical notes if available.
Which codes are on the Letter of Medical Necessity?
The LOMN prescribes a mandibular advancement device, HCPCS E0486, for obstructive sleep apnea, ICD-10 G47.33.
Will I be updated on my patient's progress?
Yes. We keep referring providers informed about their patient's treatment and results.
Can patients use an oral appliance together with CPAP?
Yes. Some patients use an oral appliance for travel or as a backup alongside CPAP. Combination therapy may also help selected patients.
Contact our office
Complete Health Sleep SoCal
Erela Katz Rappaport, DMD, D-ABDSM
15706 Pomerado Road, Suite 205, Poway, CA 92064
Phone (858) 956-7928 · Fax (858) 487-4281