Does your doctor (non-DOT) have to report a diagnosis of sleep apnea to your state's DMV?

I think he'll have to get a physical every 12 months though, if the DOT doctor finds out about it.
@Brandt has the details on that. He's posted some good info about sleep apnea.

 

No his pcp does not have to report it but if the dot examiner wants to know what's going on by asking the pcp, the pcp has to disclose it.

 

You are correct that his pcp does not report it, but the pcp cannot disclose it, not even to a "DOT" medical examiner without permission.

 

Correct that FMCSA won't know anything about it.

But it can initially disqualify a driver. After a diagnosis is made and it is determined that it is likely to interfere with the driver’s ability to operate safely then after treatment (cpap etc) a driver can be requalified.

Excerpt from letter to Medical Examiners from FMCSA:
FMCSA’s physical qualifications standards prohibit individuals from receiving a medical examiner’s certificate to operate commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce if they have an “established medical history or clinical diagnosis of a respiratory dysfunction likely to interfere with his or her ability to control and drive a commercial motor vehicle safely.” (49 CFR 391.41(b)(5)). OSA is considered a respiratory dysfunction when there is a determination that it is likely to interfere with the driver’s ability to operate safely because of the severity of the case."

 

Plus while the pcp can not disclose it without permission (HIPPA laws) if the DOT Dr. tests for it, there will be a question in the long form "Have you ever been diagnosed for ... Sleep Apnea ... You must answer yes and have the required 30 day report (70% usage, 4+ hours a day.)
Now there is also the DOT Dr's that don't care, so will not even ask.

 

What are the criteria for having to get a sleep test. I had heard somewhere a guy was sent just because of the size of his neck? If not true then how do they decide someone needs to be tested?

 

Hello Everyone,
I kind of have tha same question as the OP.
Im a 33 year old male, 5’10” 220lbs
I have my California Class B for less than two years and just did my DOT physical renewal last month without problem.
Aside from that I just had surgery for an Anal Fistula and when waking up from general anesthesia i was told that i should get checked for sleep apnea.
Im afraid that if i get tested and I have it i might loose my license. I know my BMI is Obese and i need to loose some weight and probably just going to try that first.

What do you guys think i should do?
Thanks
Juan

 

Do the sleep test on your own so your company doesn't know about it. That would be better than your company ordering a sleep study and maybe losing your job for awhile until it's sorted out. Your private insurance might pay part of the costs.
Get a machine that has the chip that records your use of it. If you get caught up in the sleep apnea study because your company requires it, you can show you're in compliance because the chip will have a record of it. They will probably want to see a 90 day history of compliance.
www.rpmhst.com is a website about this and how you can do your own home testing.