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Members Member Resources AAAAI News AAAAI eNews AAAAI Job Placement Center Promoting your Practice Order Public Education Materials Disease Management/ Ask the Expert Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Education and Research Trust (ART) Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 2007 Accomplishments Annual Meeting Executive Staff Contacts Online Membership Directory AAAAI Organizational Structure » Members Contact AAAAI: Professional Home for the Practicing Allergist Grants and Awards Hot Topics Joint Council of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (JCAAI) ST*AR Program AAAAI Assembly overview Allied Health Federation of the RSLAAI Societies International Military Allergy New Allergist/Immunologist Assembly Program Directors Organizational Chart Board of Directors Interest Sections Committees Fellows-in-Training Allied Health Professional Assembly Federation of RSLAAIS International Assembly Military Allergy Assembly New Allergist/Immunologist Assembly Program Directors Associates		Academy News: November 2003 RSL conference calls offer forum to share ideas By Sandra Gawchik, DO, FAAAAI On the second Tuesday of each month, the Governors of the RSLAAIS have a conference call. It is during these meetings that a sharing of ideas occurs among the Governors and various leaders of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI). It is an exchange between grassroots members and AAAAI leadership. Highlights from the last two conference calls held in August and September follow. The AAAAI is sponsoring RSL Leadership Forums in each of the seven regions of the country. Sheldon Spector, MD, FAAAAI, reported on the Region 7 Leadership Forum held August 7-8 in Napa, CA. At the forums, society presidents and vice-presidents, along with the regional governor and AAAAI leadership, work together to form a conduit between the AAAAI Board of Directors and the grassroots allergist/immunologist. Forums held in each of the regions will give leaders the ability to interact with the AAAAI Board. This will allow local allergist/immunologists’ issues to be resolved, and provide a time to ask questions and promote good relations both locally and nationally. The RSL Leadership Forums are funded through an unrestricted educational grant from Schering-Plough. During each conference call, a representative from a supporting organization offers an explanation of their services and reports on their activities. August conference call Mary Brasler represented the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). AAFA has been working to improve the quality of life for those with asthma and allergies for 50 years. AAFA has 12 chapters in 20 states. Mary reports that the chapters work very closely with the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN). In addition, AAFA has a comprehensive Web site (www.aafa.org) that is used to direct the public to support groups, educational programs and newsletters. AAFA also offers a variety of programs for children including Power Breathing, ACT and Wee Wheezer. There are also management programs for professionals. Currently AAFA is developing a position statement with regard to the forced switch of antihistamine drugs from prescription to over the counter. This document will be submitted to the FDA. AAFA provides an abundance of information for the practicing allergist/immunologist. September conference call Spencer Atwater, MD, FAAAAI, from the Joint Council of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (JCAAI) discussed consultation and billing issues. The RSL Governors requested information regarding when it is appropriate to bill as a consultation and when to bill as a new patient visit. The outcome of the conversation was that when a patient is referred by another physician, the visit is billed as a consultation. Atwater stated that if a patient is self referred, he or she is considered a new patient and follow-up visits are billed as standard visits and not consultations. Atwater said the JCAAI was open to answering questions, and members could visit the Web site at www.jcaai.org to find additional answers to billing questions. This column will include ongoing updates to keep RSL members informed about what is taking place during conference calls and subsequent lectures. <back>
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