Positive Pressure Ventilation (CPB 0452, reviewed 2026-07-01)
Aetna covers bilevel positive airway pressure (bilevel PAP) devices as durable medical equipment for members with restrictive thoracic disorders, severe COPD, central sleep apnea, complex sleep apnea, hypoventilation syndrome, or obstructive sleep apnea, when the medical necessity criteria for each condition are met. A bilevel PAP device with a backup rate feature is covered for these conditions only under specific criteria, and a backup rate feature has no proven value for obstructive sleep apnea. Ventilators with noninvasive interfaces are covered for severe neuromuscular disease, thoracic restrictive disease, or chronic respiratory failure from COPD where interruption or failure of respiratory support would lead to death, and noninvasive positive pressure ventilation is experimental, investigational, or unproven for asthma, pneumonia, bronchiolitis, acute lung injury and other indications not listed as covered.