Sleepless in Miami: Local sleep clinics see surge as more residents seek rest studies

A record 1,250 sleep studies were performed at Baptist Health's sleep center in Coral Gables during the first half of 2026, a 15 percent increase over the same period last year, hospital officials confirmed Thursday. The spike mirrors a national rise in sleep disorder diagnoses, driven by stress, screen time and climate-related disruptions.

The trend comes as no surprise to Dr. Lisa Mendez, the medical director of the sleep clinic at 6200 Blue Lagoon Drive, who told The Daily Miami that referrals for insomnia and sleep apnea have jumped 22 percent since 2024. Miami's extreme heat and humidity, which peaked at 98 degrees on July 4, are also keeping people awake, air conditioning bills rose 18 percent in June alone, according to Florida Power & Light data.

Where Miamians can get tested

The University of Miami Health System sleep center on Northwest 14th Street now offers evening and weekend appointments to accommodate working patients. A standard in-lab polysomnography, the overnight test that tracks brain waves, oxygen levels and heart rate, costs $2,850 without insurance; Medicare and most private plans cover at least a portion.

For those who can't spend the night in a clinic, two local facilities now offer home sleep tests: Mount Sinai Medical Center's beachside outpost on Collins Avenue and the Miami Sleep Diagnostic Center at 2600 Southwest 3rd Avenue. Home tests run $350 to $600 out-of-pocket and measure breathing, snoring and blood oxygen from the patient's own bed. A 2025 study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found home tests detect moderate-to-severe sleep apnea with 89 percent accuracy compared to in-lab studies.

What happens next

Patients who test positive for disorders like obstructive sleep apnea or chronic insomnia are typically referred to a six-week cognitive behavioral therapy program. Baptist Health's sleep clinic at 6200 Blue Lagoon Drive now charges $850 for the program, which includes weekly virtual sessions, down from $1,200 in 2023 thanks to a grant from the Miami-Dade County Department of Health.

Local sleep specialists stress that DIY solutions, like the $49.99 sleep-tracking rings sold at the Brickell City Centre mall, are not substitutes for clinical evaluation. “They're fun gadgets, but they won't diagnose an arrhythmia or a breathing issue,” Mendez said. She recommends residents experiencing persistent daytime fatigue, loud snoring or gasping during sleep call a clinic directly. A full list of accredited sleep centers in Miami-Dade is available at the American Academy of Sleep Medicine website.