Footnotes¹

Article Outline

• In Person
• What's the Value of Your AAAAI Membership?
  • Publications
  • Annual Meeting Discounts
  • Patient Referrals
  • Managing and Promoting your Practice
  • Professional Development
• Practical Issues for the Practicing Allergist
• Web Drilldown

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In Person 

This month's interview is with Lynn Morrison, who advocates for research funding and training issues on behalf of the Joint Council of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (JCAAI).

What do you foresee to be the biggest challenge for research funding opportunities for AAAAI members?The challenge for anyone seeking support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will be limited budget growth. In the period immediately following the doubling of the NIH budget, there were several years in which the NIH budget grew below the rate of inflation. Right now, limited NIH budget growth is more than offset by the infusion of $10 million over two years from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. In the context of the current Federal budget climate, few anticipate significant NIH budget growth after the Recovery Act funds run out next year, and we may see a return of sub-inflationary growth.

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What types of initiatives are you are working on for the AAAAI?Over the past 15 years, the biomedical research lobbying effort succeeded in tripling the NIH budget from $10 billion to over $30 billion. Driving this success was an army of advocates from scientific and specialty societies as well as patient groups. The AAAAI has been a part of this effort and engages interested members in contacts with Congress to advocate increases in the overall NIH budget each year. In addition, of course, most of these advocates seek to protect their own categorical “turf” and make the case as to why priority should be given to their respective diseases or disciplines. While many feel this is contrary to the principles of peer review and the desire to keep Congress out of NIH priority setting, the cumulative effect has helped to drive the NIH budget ever upward.

The AAAAI has mounted several targeted campaigns to increase support for specific allergic diseases. This began with a focus on food allergy and anaphylaxis. More recently, we have attempted to heighten Congressional awareness and support for research on atopic dermatitis and the progression to allergy and asthma, as well as drug allergies. These efforts are ongoing, and we have just initiated an additional effort to raise Congressional awareness about the link between obesity and asthma/allergy.

How do you match the AAAAI's mission with your role in Washington?The mission of the AAAAI is to advance the knowledge and practice of allergy, asthma and immunology for optimal patient care. Through its participation in the JCAAI, the Academy is actively engaged in advocacy related to “practice” and “patient care.” My efforts on the Academy's behalf are focused exclusively on research funding and training issues consistent with the AAAAI's commitment to “advance the knowledge” in the field of allergy, asthma and immunology.

To date, what has been your most significant accomplishment in your work for our organization?I am particularly pleased about the success we have had in the area of food allergy. When I began representing the AAAAI, there were only a handful of NIH-supported investigators working on food allergy, and relatively limited Congressional awareness. Over the past six years, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees have encouraged the NIAID to expand its research portfolio on food allergy, and the NIAID has been very responsive. NIAID increased support for research on food allergy from $1 million in FY 2003 to $19 million in FY 2008 while maintaining equitable pay lines across the three NIAID divisions for investigator-initiated research.

How can members, as individuals, make a difference in their local communities regarding asthma, allergies and immune deficiencies?It has become a cliché to say that all politics is local. However, this has never been truer than it is today. For members of Congress, the lesson of the upset elections of 1994, 2006 and 2008 was to stay in touch with the folks back home. This creates an opportunity for AAAAI members to be heard. Leaders of the Academy have been willing to come to Washington and meet with Senators and Representatives, testify at Congressional hearings and speak at Congressional staff briefings as we have attempted to increase Congressional awareness of the human and economic toll of asthma and allergic diseases.

However, travel to Washington is not required for you to become involved. Every House and Senate office has a staff person assigned to handle health issues, and there are Academy members who have cultivated “advisory” relationships with these staff members primarily through phone and e-mail. Senators and Representatives have local offices where they meet regularly with constituents away from the unpredictable pace and schedule of Washington. Most will respond favorably to a request for a meeting, or at least make sure that you have the opportunity to meet with a staff member.

The other opportunity at the local level is to become involved in local asthma/allergy patient support groups. Some of these groups have been phenomenally successful working on relevant issues in their state legislatures—school guidelines for food-allergic students, for example. Many of these groups invite allergists to speak at their meetings or serve in an advisory capacity.

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What's the Value of Your AAAAI Membership? 

With the 2010 dues process starting this month, it's a good time to reflect on the many benefits available to you as a member of the AAAAI, the premier professional medical organization devoted to the allergy/immunology specialty. Below is just a small portion of the benefits available when you renew your membership each year.

Publications 

As an AAAAI member, you receive a variety of publications, including a subscription to The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, which is the most-cited allergy/immunology journal with an impact factor of 9.773. In addition to the cutting-edge research found in each issue, the JACI also includes your monthly Footnotes pages devoted to practical matters.

Other publications that keep you up-to-date include AAAAI News, your quarterly member magazine, and eNews, a monthly e-publication offering the very latest news and links.

Annual Meeting Discounts 

Each year, more than 7,000 of the most prominent allergist/immunologists, allied health professionals and researchers gather from around the world at the AAAAI Annual Meeting. Fellows and members receive discounted registration rates and also enjoy earlier registration so they have first access to the sessions they want to attend.

Patient Referrals 

Hundreds of thousands of consumers visit www.aaaai.org to use the AAAAI Physician Referral Directory to find an allergist/immunologist. Your member-benefit listing can lead potential patients to your practice.

Managing and Promoting your Practice 

From best practices in patient care, to best practices in public relations, your AAAAI membership provides the tools you need to succeed. Practice Management Resources on www.aaaai.org give you the latest information to manage your practice—from EMRs to coding issues. The Promoting Your Practice Toolkit offers timely public relations tips and templates, and joining the AAAAI's Media Link team of experts gets your name in front of local and national media sources.

Professional Development 

The Virtual Annual Meeting offers CME opportunities for those who can't make it to the Annual Meeting or missed sessions. The Continuing Education area of the AAAAI Web site also offers other CME opportunities, including a calendar of upcoming events. Members giving presentations are invited to browse the AAAAI's library of teaching slides.

Additionally, committee, interest section and assembly involvement allow you to share your expertise, help guide the future of the specialty, enhance your recognition and develop leadership skills.

Your AAAAI membership. It's more than you think.

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Practical Issues for the Practicing Allergist 

•AMA Campaign Looks to Cure the Claims Process

According to the National Healthcare Exchange Services, physicians divert as much as 14% of their revenue to ensure accurate payments from insurers. The American Medical Association (AMA) “Heal the Claims Process” campaign aims to streamline and improve claims process efficiency and help reduce the cost of submitting claims for physician practices.

As part of its efforts, the AMA has designated November as “Cure for Claims” month, encouraging physicians around the country to do their part to eliminate waste in the claims process.

To maximize efficiency, the AMA recommends the following actions:

The Practice Management Center of the AMA Web site offers a library of educational materials and practical tools that cover every step of the claims management revenue cycle. Visit www.ama-assn.org/go/pmc to access these resources.

The results from the AMA's second annual National Health Insurer Report Card were also recently announced. The report card diagnoses the strengths and weaknesses of the claims processing systems used by the nation's largest health insurers. Visit www.ama-assn.org/go/reportcard to view the complete findings or listen to a Webinar on the 2009 report card.

•November 1 Marks the Compliance Date for the “Red Flags” Rule

The deadline to comply with the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) “red flags” rule is November 1. This rule requires physicians to institute policies to identify, detect and respond to potential risks of identity theft. The AMA has been attempting to convince the FTC and Congress that physicians are not “creditors” and thus should not be subject to the rule. However, it's important that your practice has policies in place to comply with it.

To help, the AMA has a variety of resources available at www.ama-assn.org/ama/no-index/physician-resources/red-flags-rule.shtml. The FTC also has a Web site offering guidance. Visit www.ftc.gov/redflagsrule for more information.

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Web Drilldown 

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The 2010 AAAAI Annual Meeting will take place February 26 – March 2, in New Orleans, LA. Every year, thousands of people attend the meeting to learn about groundbreaking research in allergy/immunology—it's always an action-packed few days! But this year, delegates' Annual Meeting experience will begin long before they arrive in New Orleans.

As part of an effort to “go green” and reduce costs, the AAAAI is moving important Annual Meeting information online only. This year, most members will receive an abbreviated preliminary program in the mail, which will contain key information about sessions. Details about hotels, committee meetings, exhibits and more will be available online. International members will not receive a mailing, but will be able to access all information on the Annual Meeting Web site. Most importantly, all Annual Meeting delegates must register online to attend the meeting. A paper registration form will not be available, and registrations will not be accepted by mail, fax or phone.

The 2010 Annual Meeting Web site will be frequently updated as details about registration, hotels, speakers and other activities become available. We encourage you to bookmark www.annualmeeting.aaaai.org and check back often for the latest news. We look forward to seeing you in New Orleans!