OSA and driver's license renewal

OK, here's a weird one.
My driver's license expires at the end of the month. Last time I renewed it by mail, this time I have to go in to the DMV and (probably) fill out a bunch of paperwork.

Is OSA one of the conditions they ask about on the medical form?
And if you mark that you have it (I can see how some people, maybe in their sleep deprived state might "forget" to check the box ) do you have to have your doctor fill out a form?

Just having to go to the DMV at all is bad enough, having to take some form to my doctor and then go back again is something I just don't have time for.

Don't volunteer any personal information you do not have to....

^Yeah.
I guess I'll just see when I get there.
My OSA hasn't gotten me in any car accidents so far; and now that I'm on CPAP...

I agree - less said, the better.

My doctor kept insisting that I claim I fall asleep at the wheel, so I did, to get the PSG. However, everytime I've EVER done that, it was after midnight, and I'd been driving a very long time.

And, in fact, last time that happened was years ago, way before anyone claimed I quit breathing in my sleep or snored to beat the band.

I believe in the UK you can have your drivers license suspended for an OSA diagnosis - from posts I've read here. But I've not heard about that in the US.

Cheers,
B.

I just got a replacement for my lost license and when I was asked about health problems I said no but a moment later when I inquired if chronic pain from foot fractures should be noted I was told they are looking for stuff like dementia.

DMV laws are at the state level, so they vary. However, I can say this: in California the guideline is "Have you lost consciousness while driving since the last time you renewed your license?" This is asked in the context of medical conditions such as epilepsy, not falling asleep at the wheel. That said, I'm not aware of a state that prevents some people from driving if they are diagnosed with OSA, a la those of us with epilepsy.

Doug.

To my knowlede OSA is not a conditon that will hinder you getting a licenses.

I, however, agree with the others: do not reveal any information unless you have to.

Hunter1

Big Brother, knows too much about us already, "Don't ask, don't Tell" are the best ideas, unless you are related to Clinton. Jim

I'm not advising you one way or the other, but I know that in PA and MD Physicians are required to report anyone they diagnose with sleep apnea to the DMV. So in those states the DMV already knows that you have it, i'm not sure if/what actions they would take if you said that you didn't on medical forms. I'm not even sure if the person sitting behind the computer would even know by looking at your file if you did. All I know is that the physicians are required to report it to the DMV. Like others said it differs from state to state.

Although I am new to all of this, it would seem like the ones who would be the most hazardous on the roads are those that are undiagnosed/untreated.

As long as you are being treated, I don't see why the state should need to know. But, you might want to check your state's DMV website and see if they discuss medical conditions that must be revealed.

Susan

California is one of only six states to have mandatory physician reporting. Currently, physicians and surgeons in California are required to report any patient with a disorder characterized by lapses of consciousness. This includes seizure disorders, Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia, among other conditions. (See below for the other conditions)

According to the California Office of HIPAA Implementation, mandatory physician reporting (Health and Safety Code Section 103900) is not in conflict with the federal Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Health and Safety Code Section 103900
(a) Every physician and surgeon shall report immediately to the local health officer in writing, the name, date of birth, and address of every patient at least 14 years of age or older whom the physician and surgeon has diagnosed as having a case of a disorder characterized by lapses of consciousness. However, if a physician and surgeon reasonably and in good faith believes that the reporting of a patient will serve the public interest, he or she may report a patient’s condition even if it may not be required under the departments definition of disorders characterized by lapses of consciousness.

Definition of disorders: California Code of Regulations (Division 1, Chapter 4, Subchapter 2.5, § 2802), disorders characterized by lapses of consciousness means those medical conditions that involve: (1) a loss of consciousness or a marked reduction of alertness or responsiveness to external stimuli; and (2) the inability to perform one or more activities of daily living; and (3) the impairment of the sensory motor functions used to operate a motor vehicle.
Examples of medical conditions that do not always, but may progress to the level of functional severity described in the above subsection of this section include Alzheimer's disease and related disorders, seizure disorders, brain tumors, narcolepsy, sleep apnea, and abnormal metabolic states, including hypo- and hyperglycemia associated with diabetes.

So: It's up to your doc. If they believe that your apnea meets the three part "level of functional severity" test, they are mandated to report you. Even if you don't meet the three part test, they can report you if they feel, in their opinion, that it would be in the public's interest.

So be nice to your doc. Note that there is NO exemption or consideration for the condition being fully controlled by treatment or medication.

Thanks for all the advice.
Hmm... I agree that Big Brother knows way too much about everyone already. I guess I'll just see what the forms are like when I get there.

I'm sure alot of people hurry through filling out those forms without paying alot of attention anyway...

I wouldn't put down OSA, you can always play "dumb" or say you didn't understand that question. You don't lose consciousness with OSA.

Here's why I would play "dumb":

The DMV and your auto insurance exchange information (in Calif they do), if your doctor reports you have OSA and you don't follow their advice to the tee, they can report you to DMV. What does that mean?

What happens if State Farm is your insurance carrier for your auto and they also have your Life insurance policy? Well not only can your auto rates increase, they can cancel or limit your Life Insurance policy (and/or increasing your rate) as a result of your doctor being a dickhead.

You basically have NO privacy rights not even with your medical, I bet if your identity is stolen 9 out of 10 times it will come from the lax privacy practices found in the medical industry. How many times have they taken your medical card and drivers license to copy it?

It was only a few years ago they eliminated the Social Security Number as your policy/account number from your medical card. Before then that is how they identified you, was by your SS#. Pretty stupid we let them do that as long as we did, and they continue to this day tracking you by your SS#. Next time you are by your doctors office go check out around the dumpster, you'll see papers with patient info all over the place, I bet half the doctors don't even own a shredder.

If they didn't log your co-pay on the books correctly they will not hesitate to ding your credit history file for non-payment no ifs ans or butts about it. Our government should list WHO can have our SS# and what specifically it may be used for. You don't give them your SS# for medical you don't get service.

Thanks Snoredog!

Basically, I'm worried because I don't want to get in trouble with the wonderful, friendly and helpful government (<-sarcasm, of course ) but I also don't want to have to take some form to my doctor and have to waste more time at the DMV. I'm already taking half a day off work to deal with this crap. Going through all the bureaucratic BS just to get my license renewed is bad enough without having to list my sleep apnea.

Playing dumb sounds like a good solution. I have no patience for filling out stupid forms anyway, so it would be easy to claim that I rushed through filling it out/didn't understand the question, etc.
I've never fallen asleep at the wheel or had any problems with my OSA while driving, so it's not a problem for me.

It really pisses me off too how we have to give our SSN out for everything; and how careless medical offices and other places are with it.

My doctors receptionist told me that it is now illegal for her to record my s/s number. The state of Virginia has also stopped using s/s on drivers licenses.
Because of my age (72) I have to go into dmv every four years, They have never asked me for any medical info. They only do a vision test.