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Academy News: January 2005Lay Organizations
This is especially harmful for the primary immune deficiency community. Approximately 70% of patients require chronic replacement therapy consisting of IVIG infusions to protect individuals from frequent life-threatening infections and debilitating illnesses. Sending all primary immune deficient patients on Medicare to the hospital for their IVIG infusions can increase the patients risk for infections and not all hospitals are equipped to treat PIDD patients. The Immune Deficiency Foundation (IDF) has been working with CMS and key members of Congress to increase the reimbursement for IVIG. IDF advocates that physicians and patients should decide what site of service is best based on clinical appropriateness and individual circumstances, and reimbursement should never dictate where a patient receives an IVIG infusion. Different sites of service should be available to beneficiaries, and all should receive equal and adequate reimbursement. In the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA), Congress exempted IVIG from competitive bidding, understanding that patients need access to all brands of IVIG. Additionally, Congress added a new site of service for primary immune deficient patients to receive IVIG, and that was in the home-care setting. However, with the new rates being proposed by CMS, patients will lose access to all products, as well as lose access to most sites of service. IVIG is a lifesaving therapy for primary immune deficiency diseases (PIDD). IDF invites providers to join in their efforts in securing equal and adequate reimbursement in all sites of service, by contacting Michelle Vogel, director of government affairs, at (800) 296-4433.
A 22-year-old woman who had a peanut allergy and asthma had an allergic reaction to peanuts in a dessert she had tasted. She did not have her Epi-Pen® with her at the time of the reaction. A 17-year-old boy who had asthma and a known allergy to hazelnuts mistakenly ate candies that contained hazelnuts. He was unprepared to handle a severe allergic reaction, had not been given a prescription for an Epi-Pen® and was under the impression that ingestion would only cause an asthma attack. Please be sure to remind your patients about the importance of always being prepared for a reaction. It could save their lives. Study reinforces food allergies as growing health concern If you or your staff work with local schools, let them know about FAAN’s multi-media guide, The School Food Allergy Program. It is designed to help parents and school nurses develop a comprehensive plan for successfully managing food allergies in school. The program is available free to school staff, while supplies last. For additional information, call (800) 929-4040 or visit www.foodallergy.org.
New catalog of tools for
providers and patients Advocacy efforts support for law to help school children AAFA believes that without access to these medicines at school, students are unable to follow their physician-prescribed treatment plan, the cornerstone of quality care in asthma and allergy. Hopefully, this will help to fix the problem of inconsistent state and school district rules, that currently leave many students unprotected and at risk in emergency situations that can mean the difference between life and death. To learn more about AAFA advocacy efforts, visit our Web site at www.aafa.org.
AANMA has formed a coalition, the Consumer Health Alliance for Safe Medications (CHASM), joining with the AAAAI, American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI), Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), Association of Asthma Educators (AAE) and the American Association of Respiratory Care (AARC) to take this issue to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and state and federal lawmakers. Visit the AANMA Web site, www.breatherville.org, to download the article entitled Are There Fakes and Frauds in Your Nebulizer, or order printed copies for distribution. Sample fraudulent vials are depicted with helpful tips on detecting imposter medication. If you have questions or have encountered these illegal medications, please contact Sandra Fusco-Walker at (800) 729-3804 or e-mail sfwalker@aanma.org. We are collecting evidence. Asthmatic Schoolchildren’s Treatment and Health Management Act of 2004 becomes law
Your support is more important than ever in order for us to be able to continue this mission. If you already have a professional membership, please consider renewing in 2005. If you aren’t currently a member, we would be pleased and grateful to add you to our roster. Fees are $65 annually for national members and $75 for international members. This includes our quarterly newsletter, The Alert, along with latex allergy brochures and resources for your office. Your contribution is tax deductible. Please contact us at (888) 972-5378, or visit our Web site, www.latexallergyresources.org, for a printable membership form.
Attendance is expected to be high, and early registration is encouraged. While conference delegates are traditionally from the lay community, we encourage medical professionals to attend the meeting as well. Registration materials are now available on the APFED Web site, www.apfed.org. Education and awareness
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IVIG payment cuts threaten access to care
Anaphylaxis update
Research: free nationwide clinical trials database
Are there fakes and frauds in your patients’ nebulizers?
We would like to sincerely thank those of you who have supported us with professional memberships this past year, as well as those who have generously given us your time and expertise in response to questions. Our close working relationship with experts in the medical and research communities is a major component of our credibility with our members and the public, and we strive every day to maintain the respect we’ve earned as an educational and support organization for those affected by latex allergy. 
Patient education conference