Most insurances are based on Medicare guidelines. Medicare requires 2 hours of actual sleep time and 15 apneas per hour of sleep. Another words 30 apneas in a 2 hour sleep period. Medicare changes their minds yearly, so most sleep labs make sure that the worst sceanario is present so the patient does not have to come back and re-qualify, and that you don't have to pay out of pocket for the equipment and supplies. The sleep labs are trying to save you time and money in the long run. The physicians just want to have you treated ASAP so you can enjoy a great nights sleep. They don't know when insurance companies are going to change their rules.