Practice Matters!: Happy National Penicillin Allergy Day 1

posted: Sep. 27, 2024.

Assessor CE Update

Practice Matters is brought to you by the AAAAI Office of Practice Management.


Happy National Penicillin Allergy Day 1


 
AAAAI-Crafted Penicillin Allergy Legislation to be Introduced in the House
AAAAI-crafted legislation that will shine a light on the importance of Penicillin allergy delabeling will be introduced within days by Representatives Larry Bucshon, MD (R-IN), Ami Bera, MD (D-CA), Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Scott Peters (D-CA), Greg Murphy, MD (R-NC) and Kim Schrier, MD (D-WA). The Penicillin Allergy Verification and Evaluation (PAVE) Act directs physicians conducting initial and annual exams for Medicare patients to ask the source of penicillin allergy indicated in their medical record, and delabel them as appropriate.

In addition to the AAAAI, the legislation is supported thus far by physician organizations including the American Medical Association, the American College of Physicians, the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy, the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and the American Gastroenterological Association. It is also supported by patient and public health groups including the Allergy and Asthma Network (AAN), Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Connection Team (FAACT), Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), International Food Protein Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome Association (I-FPIES), The Mast Cell Disease Society, Inc. (TMS) and Peggy Lillis Foundation (PLF).

Watch your email and AAAAI social media for more information on the PAVE Act, coming soon. 

 
AAAAI-Supported Legislation Updates

Several AAAAI-supported bills passed the House of Representatives recently, including: 

  • H.R. 4758 - Accelerating Kids' Access to Care Act streamlines Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) out-of-state provider rules

  • H.R.6033 - SPEAK Act improves telehealth access for non-English speakers 
  • H.R. 3800 - Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act which will allow individuals diagnosed with asthma who have a high-deductible health insurance plan used with a Health Savings Account (HSAs) to have inhaled corticosteroids and peak flow meters covered before their plan deductible is met

In addition, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce advanced several health and telemedicine bills, including the Telehealth Modernization Act, which extends some pandemic-era telehealth flexibilities through 2026. Read about these and more on the AAAAI’s Legislation Chart. 

 
AAAAI Prioritizes Physician Payment, Patient Access to Care

Recent AAAAI advocacy on physician payment and patient access to care include the following in response to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) CY 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS):

  • Opposition to a 2.8% cut in physician payment, urging CMS to mitigate annual reductions in the PFS conversion factor due to rising costs and lower reimbursement for reduced access to care, citing venom immunotherapy as an example 
  • A stakeholder letter urging Congress to ensure Medicare payments to clinicians are adjusted annually for inflation
  • A coalition letter urging CMS to finalize non-chemotherapy complex drug administration coding changes
  • A coalition letter urging HHS to address the Self-Administered Drug (SAD) Exclusion List, which limits access to physician-administered medications 
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PRACTICE TIP OF THE MONTH - Penicillin Allergy Testing: Helpful Tools for your Practice

While 10% of the US population believes they are allergic to penicillin, allergist/immunologists know that the vast majority are not. Successfully de-labeling patients who think they are penicillin allergic can lead to:

  • Faster, safer and more effective treatments for patients
  • Significant cost savings for patients, physicians and health systems
  • Reduced levels of antibiotic resistance

The AAAAI Penicillin Allergy Center has practical resources to use with your patients, including:

 
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