As a sleep physician (not an AME) who deals with pilots at all stages of the Special Issuance process. Let me explain the new Guidelines as best as I can. It is explained as well in detail at
ZEE APPNEA ? Sleep Apnea Risk
The bottom line is that what is being written on the AOPA website is a little misleading.
It is very important to be aware of the implications of the new guidelines as it pertains to your next AME exam. The AME's now for the first time , is required to screen for sleep apnea (OSA) risk. Prior to these guidelines, this uncomfortable topic could be avoided by just ignoring it. Now it cannot!
My guess is a lot more Airman will be identified as high risk for OSA.
If you present to the AME and it is determined that you are at High risk of having OSA, you will be given Spec Sheet B, which will give you 90 days to get assessed and if required treated for OSA. But what needs to be made very clear is that once you do the sleep study, you cannot exercise your privileges of your medical certificate until you are deemed to be in compliance with treatment. The FAA now knows that you are in the process of being evaluated. Once your are in compliance with treatment, your medical certificate is valid.
I would strongly advise that prior to your next AME exam, predetermine if possible if you are at risk for OSA. Review Spec Sheet B carefully.
The new guidelines are definitely more lenient on those Airmen who have been evaluated prior to the AME exam. In these cases the Airman has 90 days + 30 days to get in compliance . See Spec sheet A. In this situation the Airman will be issued a medical certificate and will have 120 days to provide all information to the FAA.