From the President

Dear colleagues,

Practice matters to the AAAAI. This is the reason I am pleased to announce the creation of a comprehensive, multi-faceted set of activities designed to empower and support allergist/immunologists in practice—with the AAAAI’s Office of Practice Management acting as the main engine for these activities.

What is the Office of Practice Management?

The Office of Practice Management is a group within the AAAAI that has a specific function: to serve as a dedicated resource for the AAAAI membership on practice management issues. Given the rapidly changing healthcare environment, it is imperative to have a centralized unit that in various ways supports A/I physicians in clinical practice.

Among those involved in the Office of Practice Management are the two leaders of the AAAAI’s Regional, State and Local Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Societies (RSLAAIS) Assembly, our constituency for the practicing allergist.

How Does the Office of Practice Management Help Members?

You may be thinking, what does this mean for AAAAI members? Here is a breakdown of the tangible benefits AAAAI members already see from the Office of Practice Management, followed by a brief explanation of each:

• Coding information and resources: The AAAAI is your source for coding expertise.What does that mean? We can answer your day-to-day questions with the help of A/I coding expert Teresa Thompson, CPC, CMSCS. Simply submit your questions to coding@aaaai.org. The AAAAI website also has a multitude of coding resources for your practice. Bookmark this page and visit it often.
• Healthcare organization relations: Aside from interfacing and providing input on issues involving payers, we now have a powerful tool called Policy Reporter that notifies us of any changes and trends in commercial payer coverage. This tool allows us to routinely monitor matters involving the specialty, and quickly act when concerns arise. Ensuring our patients have access to care remains a high priority.
• Legislative and regulatory advocacy: The AAAAI has advocated for many years on issues including research funding, GME and comparative effectiveness of immunotherapy in allergy and asthma patients, and this year added a range of additional issues around physician reimbursement and patient access. We work with Hart Health and Washington Health Advocates to help us strategize and respond to key topics affecting the specialty. In fact, AAAAI leaders were on Capitol Hill last month meeting with lawmakers. Read more about these visits and stay up to date on our efforts by visiting the AAAAI advocacy webpage at www.aaaai.org/advocacy.   
• Practice Management Workshop: Since 2004, the AAAAI has held nine Practice Management Workshops dedicated to the business of A/I practice. This unique AAAAI annual event focuses on the day to day issues that all A/I physicians face—whether in solo private practice, a multi-specialty group or the academic setting. Mark your calendars now for the 2015 Practice Management Workshop, July 17-19 in Denver. Registration will open in March.
• AAAAI Quality Clinical Data Registry: The AAAAI Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Quality Clinical Data Registry in collaboration with CECity (AAAAI QCDR) is a CMS approved registry for the 2014 Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) program year. The AAAAI QCDR is the only PQRS reporting option with allergy immunotherapy measures available for reporting and is designed as a practice improvement tool. There are numerous benefits to registering for the AAAAI QCDR. I urge you to find out more by visiting our website.
• Practice Matters: How do you stay informed on the latest issues that affect practicing allergists and what the AAAAI is doing to address them? Read Practice Matters. This monthly AAAAI email, which debuted in June, contains timely content and valuable links. You can read the most recent Practice Matters here. Members are also invited to contact practicematters@aaaai.org with suggestions of practice-related topics to cover in future issues.

If you have a question about the Office of Practice Management or any of these benefits, email practicematters@aaaai.org or call the AAAAI executive office at (414) 272-6071.

Who Makes Up the Office of Practice Management?

There is no one better to lead and comprise this group than AAAAI members who are themselves practicing allergist/immunologists. Ted Freeman, MD, FAAAAI, is chair of the Office of Practice Management. Rounding out the group is Linda Cox, MD, FAAAAI; Sharon Markovics, MD, FAAAAI; Andrew Murphy, MD, FAAAAI; and Paul Williams, MD, FAAAAI. Dr. Freeman is a current Board member, Dr. Cox is Immediate Past-President, Drs. Markovics and Murphy are the Chair and Vice Chair of the RSLAAIS Assembly, respectively, and Dr. Williams is Chair of the Annual Meeting Program Subcommittee.

These physicians practice in states across the country, from Washington to Texas to Florida, and understand the issues our members face because they face the same issues. I am very grateful to Dr. Freeman and each member of the Office of Practice Management, as they are doing vital work that translates into the benefits described above. 

Considering how much the practice of medicine is evolving, we cannot afford to sit idly and watch as changes happen. The Office of Practice Management is your front line for issues impacting our specialty. Practice matters to the AAAAI.

Sincerely,

James T. Li, MD, PhD, FAAAAI

AAAAI President

Last updated: December 4, 2014