Sleep Apnea Proposal Clears OMB

A plan by federal regulators to issue an advance notice of proposed rulemaking regarding sleep apnea cleared a review by the White House Office of Management and Budget on Feb. 3.

The plan seeks data and information about the prevalence of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in the rail and trucking industries.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and Federal Railroad Administration also plan to request information about the potential economic impact and safety benefits associated with regulatory actions that would affect transportation workers in safety-sensitive positions who:

• Exhibit multiple risk factors for OSA, and

• Are undergoing evaluation by a health-care professional with expertise in sleep disorders and subsequent treatment.

FMCSA originally planned to issue guidance without using the rulemaking process. It changed its position last year and began work on the advance rule after pressure from Congress.