ICER announced today that the next public meeting of the New England Comparative Effectiveness Public Advisory Council (CEPAC) will discuss obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults.  OSA represents an important topic for CEPAC consideration given its high prevalence among adults – studies estimate that approximately 10 to 20 percent of middle-aged and older adults suffer from the condition, the rate of which is rising due to increasing rates of obesity. Variation in compliance with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and other devices and uncertainty over their appropriate use provides an opportunity for CEPAC to provide further clarity on the evidence of therapeutic options for OSA.

CEPAC members, drawn from clinical and public policy experts from all six New England states, will discuss the findings of the review on this topic produced by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), supplemented with additional analyses and information provided by ICER.  The meeting materials will be available online for public comment beginning November 16, 2012.

Meeting Details
Date:               Thursday, December 6, 2012
Time:               10:00 AM – 4:00PM ET
Location:
Legislative Office Building
Room 2D
300 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, CT 06106

Members of the public wishing to attend the meeting must register by November 30, 2012 by visiting Meeting Registration; those wishing to submit written comments ahead of time, and those requesting the opportunity to make public comments at the meeting, can visit Reports once the draft report is available on November 16, 2012.